ALL things first, are never easily forgotten. But for former squash champ Anil Nayar, the first Indian to lift the Drysdale Cup in London in 1965, which was then, the de facto world junior championship tournament, memories of those glorious years often weighed on him. u201c Itu2019s difficult for sportspersons past their prime to reinvent themselves. There are very few who donu2019t go through grief [ after their careers have ended],u201d the 73- year- old says, remembering some of his landmark moments, in a telephonic interview from Miami Beach.
A few years ago, when Nayaru2019s American wife, author and journalist Jean Nayar, on the insistence of their friend Khalid Ansari, decided to write his memoir, it didnu2019t seem like an easy task. u201c During some of the early interviews that I did with him, I managed to get only bits of information.u201d To make it easier for both of them, Jean asked her husband to write his thoughts down on things she felt were important for the book. u201c Once I gave him that assignment, the little gems of memories started unfolding,u201d she recalls.
Lucky: A Portrait of a Legendary Indian- American Squash Champion, published by Sachin Bajaj of Global Cricket School, and which launches at the Cricket Club of India on February 13, traces Nayaru2019s four decade- long sporting career that spanned two continents.
Nayar played squash at a time when the game, at least in India, was barely celebrated beyond the confines of sporting dens. He would Jane Borges Anil and Jean Nayar
