Coach Renzo raising the bar of Nepali squash players

By Prajeet Shakya Kathmandu, May 27: The numbers of squash players in Nepal are not high despite playing for three decades and more. Young players rarely pursue a career in squash. Due to weak structure, squash players hardly get a chance of exposure.

Nepal Squash Rackets Association (NSRA) came up with a plan to make squash active during the general assembly. Chairman Kishor Maharjan said the association has planned to conduct six national-level tournaments and provide proper training for the national players.

NSRA moved ahead with its plan by bringing a foreign coach two weeks ago. Renzo Andorno, the ‘Qualified Level Two’ coach, is currently training the Nepali squash team. Italian Renzo has 20 years of experience working as a squash coach.

Amrit Thapa, Arhant Singh, Amir Blon, Deepak Thapa, Umit Shakya, Bhavana Sunuwar, Swasthani Shrestha, Muskan Raut, Vrishna Thapa, and Bipana Blon are honing their skills under Renzo’s training.

Nepal’s top squash players are happy to have a world-class coach for the first time. NSRA central member Rajendra Shakya informed the training has already begun. “The training is expected to make impact in our performance at SAG.”

Nepali squash is bringing a bronze medal to the team’s event at every edition of SAG. On the contrary, the medal in the individual category has remained elusive in the regional event.

Coach Hira Bahadur Thapa hoped the individual medal would be possible if the association runs such training regularly. “India and Pakistan are above our standard. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are to our par. So, if we consistently get good training and exposure, winning an individual medal in SAG is possible.”

Coach Renzo considered squash as his second life and Nepal as his second home. He has frequently been visiting Nepal for 20 years. “Before joining here for squash, I have visited Nepal many times for social service.”

Renzo is the chairperson of NGO Friends of Nepal. He is involved in SOS Nepal too. He has established a school in Namche Bazaar and a hospital in Malekhu.

Not only Renzo but his father Renato Andorno is also connected with Nepal. “My father made a documentary video on Nepal and promoted it in Europe. That is why I sincerely wish to promote squash in Nepal.”

That said, Renzo thinks many things are needed to develop squash in Nepal. “Four weeks of training is not enough. Nothing is possible without a plan. More long-term planning is required. Exposure, good training, good food, and proper rest are necessary.

“Nepali players are good. With proper training and exposure, they can become an idol in Nepal. Nonetheless, it is important to increase the number of squash players. The more the junior players come to play, the more the level of players betters via competition.”

According to coach Renzo, squash is the best sport for fitness. Players have to be fit to play a high level of squash.

Therefore, Renzo is giving special training on technical knowledge as well as focusing on the fitness of Nepali players. “It is difficult for Nepali players to play continuously. Therefore, I am paying attention to their fitness too.

“The training of national players here is basic in Europe. However, Nepali players are mentally very strong. They play squash with passion and discipline. This is what I like about Nepali players,” Renzo added.

It is not the first time that coach Renzo has helped Nepali squash. In 2018, he invited Nepali player Amrit Thapa to train in Italy. Amrit had trained with Italian coach Marcos Bareth for 45 days there.

Renzo said he could not help further due to the COVID-19 pandemic then. “This year, I talked to Chairman Maharjan and planned to train top ten players for a month.”

“Nepali players should play with the players from Italy and other European nations. The more exposure they get the better result they produce.”

Renzo said if squash association wants he could think of becoming a full-time coach to develop Nepali squash.

Nepal’s coach Hira Bahadur Thapa is learning from Renzo too. “His training style is very different and advanced. Not only players, but I am also getting an opportunity to learn from Renzo.”

Amrit, who already trained with coach Renzo, said his arrival had revealed many weaknesses and helped improve his game. “Such training also increases the morale of the players.”  

Similarly, the experienced female squash player Bhavana said the training is going very well in hitting and technique. “If such trainers and training are available, we can win individual medals in the South Asian Games.”