>GreenC bot at 17:10, 20 April 2021

2021-04-20T17:10:03Z

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{{short description|Indian squash coach}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Cyrus Poncha
| image = The President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the Dronacharya Award for the year 2004 to Shri Cyrus M. Poncha for Squash, at a glittering ceremony in New Delhi on August 29, 2005.jpg
| caption = President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the Dronacharya Award to Cyrus Poncha, in New Delhi on 29 August 2005
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1976|01|27}}
| birth_place = [[Mumbai]], India
| other_names =
| occupation = Secretary General of [[Squash Rackets Federation of India]], Squash coach
| years_active = 2000–present
}}
'''Cyrus Poncha''' is an Indian [[Squash (sport)|squash]] coach. Born in 1976 in [[Mumbai]], he is currently based out of [[Chennai]], and coaches at the [[ICL-TNSRA Squash Academy]]. Presently, he is the Secretary General of [[Squash Rackets Federation of India]]. He is a [[Dronacharya Award]]ee. He was adjudged Asian Squash Federation Coach of the Year six times. He has coached several squash players such as [[Joshna Chinappa]], [[Dipika Pallikal Karthik]], [[Saurav Ghosal|Saurav Ghoshal]] and [[Velavan Senthilkumar]].

== Early life and career ==
Cyrus was born on 27 January 1976 in Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Squash Rackets Federation of India|url=https://www.indiasquash.com/player.aspx?id=CYRU1754|website=www.indiasquash.com|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref> Unlike most coaches, Cyrus has never been a professional player of squash.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Cyrus Poncha: The architect of India's squash empire|url=https://thebridge.in/commonwealth-games/cyrus-poncha-the-architect-of-indias-squash-empire/|date=2018-03-31|website=The Bridge|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref> However, he started coaching other squash players at the age of 18.<ref name=":1" /> He moved to Chennai to work under S. Maniam, a Malaysian coach in ICL-TNSRA Squash Academy in 2000.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Uplifting Indian squash - a mission for Cyrus Poncha|url=https://thebridge.in/featured/uplifting-indian-squash-mission-cyrus-poncha-new-srfi-secretary-general/|date=2019-06-22|website=The Bridge|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The man who fostered squash in India|url=https://www.dtnext.in/News/Sports/2016/03/05192838/The-man-who-fostered-squash-in-India.vpf|last=100010509524078|date=2016-03-06|website=dtNext.in|language=en|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Opening up new vistas for squash talent|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/12/12/stories/2002121200460400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030923012017/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/12/12/stories/2002121200460400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-09-23|website=[[The Hindu]]|date=2002-12-12|access-date=2018-05-16}}</ref> Soon after, he became the national head coach of Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), which is the governing body of squash in India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A Study on Squash in India|url=https://www.iismworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Squash-Report-1.pdf|website=iismworld.com|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=How Indian squash grapples with lack of full-time coach|url=https://thebridge.in/squash/how-indian-squash-grapples-with-lack-of-full-time-coach/|date=2019-10-23|website=The Bridge|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref> In 2005, he was awarded the Dronacharya Award, the highest honour for sport coaches in India by then [[President of India|Indian President]] [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam|A.P.J. Abdul Kalam]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=2009-12-15|title=Interview with India's National Squash Coach Cyrus Poncha|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/squash/interview-with-indias-national-squash-coach-cyrus-poncha|access-date=2018-05-16}}</ref> He has also won the 'Coach of the Year' from [[Asian Squash Federation]] award six times in 2016, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2017-04-03|title=National squash coach Cyrus Poncha to get Asian award|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/national-squash-coach-cyrus-poncha-to-get-asian-award-117040300725_1.html|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=National squash coach Cyrus Poncha nominated for ASF Award|work=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/national-squash-coach-cyrus-poncha-nominated-for-asf-award/articleshow/57991148.cms|access-date=2018-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-04-03|title=National squash coach Cyrus Poncha to get Asian award|language=en|work=Deccan Chronicle|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/in-other-news/030417/national-squash-coach-cyrus-poncha-to-get-asian-award.html|access-date=2018-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-04-03|title=National squash coach Cyrus Poncha to get Asian Squash Federation 'Coach of the Year' award|language=en-US|work=The Indian Express|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/national-squash-coach-cyrus-poncha-to-get-asian-squash-federation-coach-of-the-year-award-4598051/|access-date=2018-05-16}}</ref>

He has obtained WSF level-III coaching certificate and coached players both the junior squash and senior circuits.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Players he has coached include Joshna Chinappa, Dipika Pallikal Karthik, Saurav Ghoshal, Anaka Alankamony, Kush Kumar, Harinder Pal Sandhu and Velavan Senthilkumar among others.<ref name=":2" /> Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik have won gold in [[2014 Commonwealth Games|2014 Commonwealth games]] and are in the top 20 of [[Official Women's Squash World Ranking|Women's Squash World Ranking]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Vinod|first=A.|date=2014-08-02|title=Dipika and Joshna create history|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/joshana-chinappa-dipika-pallikal-win-squash-gold-at-cwg/article6275525.ece|access-date=2020-05-10|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='Target for players is to reach world's top 10': Interview with India's squash coach Cyrus Poncha|url=https://scroll.in/field/881364/target-for-players-is-to-reach-worlds-top-10-interview-with-indias-squash-coach-cyrus-poncha|last=Mohanarangan|first=Vinayakk|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref>

In June 2019, he was elected as the new Secretary General of SRFI. He will hold the position for four years, until 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|title=National coach Cyrus Poncha is new Secretary-General of SRFI - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/national-coach-cyrus-poncha-is-new-secretary-general-of-srfi/articleshow/69805072.cms|website=The Times of India|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Squash Rackets Federation of India|url=https://www.indiasquash.com/about-office-bearers.aspx|website=www.indiasquash.com|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref>

== Awards ==

* [[Dronacharya Award]], 2005
* [[Asian Squash Federation]] 'Coach of the Year' award, 2016, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2014 (as team coach), 2016

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://coachcyrus.wordpress.com/|name=Official blog}}
* {{Twitter|id=coachcyrus}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Poncha, Cyrus}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Squash coaches]]
[[Category:Parsi people from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Indian sports coaches]]
[[Category:Indian male squash players]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Dronacharya Award]]
[[Category:Racket sportspeople from Mumbai]]
[[Category:1976 births]]

Cyrus Poncha - Revision history

>GreenC bot at 17:10, 20 April 2021