Profile of the Week - All business with Canadian squash ace Arjun Gupta

The biggest worry on Arjun Gupta’s mind these days is how his body is going to react to the high altitude conditions in Quito, Ecuador at the up coming world junior squash championships.

He’s heard the stories and the warnings and he is working harder than ever to make sure he is in the best condition of his life when he arrives in the South American capital. Gupta is one of three returning players from the 2008 team that placed eighth at the junior worlds in Switzerland. This year anything less than a medal will likely be disappointing for the Canadians.

‘’Apparently you get tired 10 times faster than under normal conditions,’’ said Gupta, 18, born and raised in Toronto.

‘’I’m pretty nervous about that part of it. But the guys feel confident with the experience we’ve acquired and we know the competition pretty well.’’

Gupta has just completed his first year business studies at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. The school is a hot spot for Canadian players with seven on the men’s team and five on the women’s squad this past season. The men’s team placed sixth in team competition at the national championships.

‘’The biggest improvement in my game this year is that I’m mentally stronger,’’ said Gupta, third at the Canadian junior championships in April. ‘’I’m playing hard for every point, I never give up and I can just grind through a match even if it’s not going well for me.’’

It is Gupta’s parents that encouraged him to participate in various sports. In the end it was squash that won out. His biggest influence is his older brother Amar, who is also at Cornell University.

Another player that’s been a great assistance to Gupta and other Canadian players is Jonathon Power, the former world number-one and world champion.

‘’Jonathan’s helped out my game quite a bit,’’ said Gupta. ‘’He’s put the emphasis on focusing on the important aspects of the game. Things like my speed on court and footwork have really improved under Jonathon’s guidance.

‘’He trained with Nick Sachvie and I, just a couple of weeks ago to help us get ready for the world. It was really nice of him.’’

If Gupta and his teammates can reach the podium at the junior worlds, it will certainly rank up alongside Power’s exploits as one of the best moments ever in Canadian squash.