Squash pro Joshna Chinappa, synonymous with Indian squash, has made her way back in the top 10 PSA world rankings. The Chennai champ, an ASICS brand athlete, chatted with The Telegraph on not celebrating the feat yet, a food item over which she has no self-control and the mantra to achieve ‘Sound Mind in a Sound Body’.

A very happy 2022 to you, Joshna! Congratulations for the stellar comeback to the top 10! How did you celebrate? How much of a morale booster is it for you in a crucial year?

Thank you very much! The top 10 is a special place to be at and I’m glad to make it back in! I didn’t celebrate yet, there is more work to do! Like you said this is a big year with the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, so I want to be consistent and confident going into these events.

What have you incorporated in your routine this year?

I have been training in Egypt a little bit more, especially since a lot of tournaments happen there, so I either stay back after a tournament or go before one to train there. It makes sense to play and train with the best players out there.

Is there something you have given up?

I have given up chocolate for long periods of time, which is probably the hardest thing for me to do. I have no self-control when it comes to that!

Tell us about your relationship with ASICS...

I feel extremely proud to join the ASICS family and be a part of a great group of global athletes. I have been a huge fan of ASICS and was using their squash shoes well before I was associated with them. ASICS has an incredible track record for helping athletes across sports and enabling them to reach the peak of their sport. With them, I hope to take my performances to the next level on the field, and also help create change off it. I love their running shoes and clothing to train in!

What is your mantra to achieve ‘Sound Mind in a Sound Body’?

‘Sound Mind in a Sound Body’ philosophy of ASICS is more appropriate than ever, especially during a challenging period like the Covid-19 pandemic. It is important that we prioritise both mind and body equally! I believe it’s important to surround yourself with family and friends who truly care about your well-being. As an athlete we mostly work on the physical side of our body and then there are days where I need to prioritise my mental health. Hence to balance it out I sometimes speak to a friend, or my coach or even an expert if needed. I think it’s beneficial to take out some time for yourself and do some activities that help you to get you into a good space. It can be meditation, a workout, or any fun-filled activity that makes you happy and fulfilled or even just taking a small break to get you back on track.

What kind of a daily regimen do you follow?

I train typically three times a day. I do two squash sessions morning and evening and a fitness or gym session every day. My day starts around 7.30am and typically ends around 7.30pm after my last session!

With squash being strenuous and a sport which is all about quick reflexes, what have you had to work on over the years? Is there something which became more of a challenge in your 30s, something you could easily pull off in your 20s?

I believe my best physical years came after I turned 30! I understood my body a lot better and also worked with a wonderful team of coaches and trainers, who have helped me be in the best physical shape I can be. Obviously as you get older you do need to look after your body better. I have had to focus a lot more on my diet, hydrating adequately, sleeping on time and the warm up and cool down before and after training or matches. Also being in a good mental space with meditation and yoga has helped my body recover a lot faster.

What’s the recipe to keep those legs agile and in good condition to compete with players younger than you?

I have had to work a lot on being physically fit by doing a lot of weight training, track sessions, on-court fitness sessions, Pilates and lots of physio sessions with my physiotherapist.

How are you preparing for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games?

The preparations are going on for the games. I had December and January to train, so that’s been very helpful to have that time off from tournaments. I will start playing soon and will have tournaments back to back till June. So hopefully then I can take some time out to train and focus on the Commonwealth Games that’s at the end of July.

Do you believe in new year resolutions? If yes, what are they? If not, then a note to remember this year would be...

I haven’t made any resolutions. But this year I look forward to being happy and learning how to cook.

Some favourites of the quash champ

P.V. Sindh

Favourite player: P.V. Sindh

Christian Bale

Favourite actor: Christian Bale

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar

Favourite actress: Varalaxmi Sarathkumar
Favourite country: India/ Cambodia
Favourite thing to do when not playing squash: Lounge all day in my pyjamas, watching Netflix and eating pizza