About Myself

Born into a services family, I take pride in my strict up-bringing that made me travel across the country along with my father who served the Indian Army for close to 3 decades.

My father the (Late) Lt. Col Pradeep Kumar Sharma was himself a middle and long distance runner and often recounted his experience of running along with the Great Emil Zatopek of Czeckoslovakia during Emil visit to India when Dad was in college. Zatopek, if you do know is the only athlete to win gold in 5000, 10000 and the Marathon in the 1952 Helsinki Olympic.

Father always spoke to me of what Zatopek had said to him and I quote: “To boast of a performance which I cannot beat is merely stupid vanity. And if I can beat it that means there is nothing special about it. What has passed is already finished with. What I find more interesting is what is still to come.” This had inspired Dad and continues to inspire me in whatever I do in life be it in sports, profession or otherwise.

For my professional details please refer to the following url:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.co.in/

Achievements as a Administrator

Was nominated Secretary – District Gautam Buddh Nagar Squash Rackets Association to report directly to the Uttar Pradesh Squash Rackets Association which is affiliated to the Squash Rackets Association of Inida. Some of the work undertaken by us can be seen below…

Achievements as a Player

• Unique distinction for playing for the Victorious Delhi University from 1986 – 1988. Captained the team in year 1988.
• Awarded National Talent Scholarship for Squash by both Delhi Government and National Institute of Sports through Sports Authority of India in the years 1987 & 1988.
• Was among the top 36 players in the country to be invited to play India Today Master’s at Delhi Gymkhana Courts in the year 1987-88.
• First Squash Player to represent the Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan – New Delhi at the Men’s Nationals way back in 1983.

Achievements as a Coach

• Asian Squash Federation Level – 1 Certified Coach – topped the written examination with 97 % marks and cleared the exam with an overall 87 % score.
• First coaching assignment during college days – for three years from 1985 – 1987. Coached juniors from Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan. Two juniors excelled at State level. One, A. P. Singh Wirk finally played for the country as No. 2 seed at the Asian Junior Squash Championship in Hong Kong.
• From 1995 until 1998 was constantly traveling professionally. However, during the early part of this period he sparred with Gajendar Singh Rathore of Jodhpur – who eventually played for India before settling down as a Coach with a public school in Indore.
• 2005 – till date for the Delhi Development Authority’s Chilla sports complex coaching school children from Ghaziabad, East Delhi, Noida and Greater Noida. Following are some of the performances of children undergoing coaching:-

  6th U.P. State Open Squash Championship – July – August 2008

  • Runner Up – U – 11 Boys
  • Pre Quater Finalist – U – 13 Boys
  • Quater Finalist – U-13 Girls
  • Quater Finalist – Ladies
  Penang Junior International Tournament – Malaysia – June -July 2008
  • 12th Ranking (U-13) Girls
  • 17th Ranking (u-11) Boys
  Milo All Star Junior International Tournament - Kuala Lampur – June 2008
  • Runner-up Plate Event (U-11) Boys
  • Quater Finalists Plate Event (U-13) Girls
  Noida Junior Invitation Squash Championship April 2008
  • Runner-up (2nd Seed) (U-11) Boys
  • One Semi Finalists (U-15) Girls
  • One Semi Finalists (U-13) Girls
  • One Semi Finalists (U-11) Girls
  Hamdard Delton – 2008 – (Boys U-11 & Girls U-13 Jamboorie)
  • Quarter Finalist
  Delhi State Juniors – 2008
  • Runner –up (2^nd Seed) (U-11) Boys – 2008
  • 5^th Ranking  (U-13) Girls – 2008
  • 5th Ranking (U-15) Girls – 2008
  • 6th Ranking (U-13) Boys – 2008
  • 8^th Ranking  (U-13) Girls – 2008
  Sub Junior & Junior NATIONALS - 2007
  • Pre-quarter finalist Boys (U-11)
  • Second Round Boys (U-17)
  • First Round Boys (U-19 )
  5^th U.P. State Squash Championship – 2007
  • Semi-Finalist Boys (U-13)
  • Second Round Boys (U-17)
  • Second Round Boys (U-19)
  One Girl (U-13) selected by the National Talent Search Program of the Squash Rackets Federation of India and is currently being trained at the national academy in Chennai.
  55^th Senior Nationals – 2007 Chennai
  • 2 Boys represented Noida
  • 1 played for UP State – “B” Team in the Inter-State Championship
  Hamdard Delton – 2007
  • Runner-up Boys (U-9)
  • 2 Quarter finalists Girls (U-13)
  1^st Noida Open – 2006
  • Winner, Runner-up and Third Seed Boys (U-13)
  • Winner, Runner-up and Third Seed Girls (U-15)
  • Bajaj Almond Drops – 2006
    Runner-up Boys (U-9)
    2 Quarter Finalists Girls (U-13)
    1 Quarter Finalists Boys (U-15)

  1 First Round Boys (U-17)
• The above coaching program is being supervised personally under a contract with DDA Chilla. Find out about the program by clicking on the following link;

  http://www.dda.org.in/sports/chilla_sports_complex.htm

• Under the above program students from the following schools have benefited from training /  coaching: –
  1. Amity International Noida,
  2. Amity East Delhi,
  3. Ahlcon Public School –Delhi,
  4. Apeejay School– Noida,
  5. Delhi Public School-R.K.Puram – Delhi,
  6. Delhi Public School- Indrapuram – Ghaziabad,
  7. Delhi Public School– Noida & Greater Noida,
  8. Somerville – Noida,
  9. Tagore International – Delhi,
  10. Khaitan Public School - Noida,
  11. Lotus Valley School– Noida,
  12. Others…

Achievements as a Organiser

• During the earlier period of his career was associated with the organization and conduct of the following:-
  1. Inter & Intra Club Local Squash Tournaments – 1984/85/86/87/88/89
  2. Inter College and Inter – Varsity tournament as an organizer and referee – 1986/87/88.
  3. Delhi State & Northern India Squash Rackets Tournaments – 1986/87/88/89/
• Organised for Squash Rackets Association of Delhi – All India Inter-Public School Squash Tournament at Scindia School Gwalior – 1987.
• Was responsible for organizing and conduct of the 1^stNoida Open – 2006.
• Organised the Noida Junior Invitation Squash Tournament – April 2008 as Secretary Squash Rackets Association Gautam Buddh Nagar.
• Organised the 6th U.P. State Open Squash Championship – 2008 as main sponsorer and Secretary Squash Rackets Association Gautam Buddh Nagar.

Other Achievements

• Invited to refer at National Masters Squash Championship – 2008 at Delhi Gymkhana Club by Delhi Squash Association
• Invited to refere at ‘56 ICL Senior National Squash Championship & All India Inter-State Squash Tournament’ in Hyderabad by the Squash Rackets Federation of India.
• Invited to attend National Squash Coaches Conference December 2006
• Invited to attend World Refereeing Conference 4^th – 5^th December 2007 by the Squash Rackets Federation of India
• Invited to refere at the ‘21^stICL World Teams Men’s Squash Championship’ held in Chennai from 6^th – 12^th December 2007 by the Squash Rackets Federation of India.
• Refereed many state and university level matches between 1985 – 1999.

His Associations

• National & State Bodies
  • Squash Rackets Federation of India – Chennai
  • U.P. Squash Rackets Association – Kanpur
  • Delhi Squash Rackets Association – Delhi
  • Rajasthan Squash Rackets Association – Jodhpur
• International Bodies
  • Squash Life – an International Squash Publishing Co.
  • Numerous International Coaches & Referees
• Others…
  • Renowned Sports Medicine Physicians
  • Renowned International players from other Sports
  • Trainers, Assistant Coaches and others.

SUMMING UP

The following video best describes me – the reason why this video was selected was its simplicity – something that is close to my own heart. Like I keep saying I am still sharpening my skills and hoping they will let me leave my own print…..