Anaka finally delivering her promise

MUMBAI: After nearly a decade in the squash circuit, India junior No.1 Anaka Alankamony is finally coming out of the shadows cast by her more illustrious and better known teammates Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa.
Her win at the Ipswich Open in Australia last month being the latest testimony to the fact. Not only was it her maiden title win abroad, but also the most challenging that saw her stun the top seed and World No.39 Kylie Lindsay.
"That win was a big boost," says the 18-year-old from Tamil Nadu who is currently World No.92. "I generally don't play in the international circuit. So, I really did not know where I stood in terms of performance and skills. My first title was in Chennai, my home ground. But in this case, there was no crowd support or home advantage. So, that made it a bigger achievement."
Juggling her game with the demanding engineering course, Anaka emphasizes on the need for a college degree. "I am enjoying my game because I don't feel any pressure. I just love playing squash.
"But getting a college degree is equally important. It's more of a back-up, in case you get injured real bad," says second-year Computer science student at the Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, an institute that churned out the likes of offspinner R Ashwin.
However, her biggest concern at present in the dearth of sponsors. "I don't have many contacts and the only way to get any sponsors is to go through my academy. Right now, I get nominal help from the government. But I hope to secure some sponsorship soon so I can have a freer hand. As it is squash is does not guarantee much money, so some help would be more than welcome," says the product of Indian Squash Academy in Chennai.
Top seed in the ongoing CCI-Western India Open squash tournament, Anaka will next play in the World Women's Team championship in France, along with Pallikal, Chinappa and Aparajitha Balamurukan.
"India has been seeded 10th and our target is to finish in top 8. After the win in Kuwait this year, our team is pretty charged up about the challenge," she says.
BOX: India coach Cyrus Poncha speaks:
Anaka is World No.6 junior while, Mahesh Mangaokar is No.8. Anaka's win at the Asian Junior Championship in 2011 and 2012 goes on to show that she is no flash in the pan. She here to stay and conquer. Squash has definitely picked up in India and hopefully, it will get into the Olympics soon. We've come a long way, though I must admit, there's a lot more to be done. Remarkable 600 entries for the sub junior and junior nationals at the CCI, which is a fantastic reflection of the sport's growing popularity.