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Saurav Ghosal, a two-time gold medalist at the Asian Games, has decided to call time on his professional career. As the only Indian male player to have ever reached the top 10 in the world rankings, Saurav Ghosal's retirement marks the end of an era in the sport.
The announcement of his retirement came through a heartfelt post on Instagram, where Ghosal expressed gratitude for the journey that spanned over 25 years of playing the sport.
He wrote:
"I started my journey on PSA World Tour 22 years ago. At the time, I never thought in my wildest dreams, I would play professional squash for so long. As I travelled across the world, playing on some of the biggest stages our wonderful sport offered, I thought it would never come to an end. But, there’s always an end point. I am overwhelmed with emotions as I write this message. This sport has been my passion, my livelihood, and my identity for so many years. So, with a heart filled with pride and a tinge of sadness, I announce my retirement from the PSA."
He further thanked all of his fans and fellow players, writing,
"To all my fans, you have kept me going through the good and bad times. I can’t thank you enough for the love you’ve shown me along the way. A big thank you to all the players I have had the privilege of sharing the court with. I will always cherish the respect I received from each and every one of you. You have been my family for so long, and I will miss you all!"
Hopefully, there’s some fight left in me, and I can achieve a bit more for my country - Saurav Ghosal
Over his career, Saurav Ghosal played more than 500 professional matches. He's won 10 PSA Tour titles and been India's national men's singles champion 13 times.
His recent triumphs at the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, where he clinched gold in the team squash event and silver in the individual category, added yet another feather to his decorated cap.
He remains confident about playing a little more for his country, as he further stated:
"Finally, I hope this is not me saying goodbye altogether from competitive squash. I would like to play for India a little while longer. Hopefully, there’s some fight left in me, and I can achieve a bit more for my country. Till then, THANK YOU!"
