Kalote-Mokashi, a village nestled around 70 km drive from Mumbai, in Raigad taluka, is a much sought after destination for urban dwellers looking for a weekend getaway to unwind from their hectic work schedules.
The tribal, village with a population of around 2,000, overlooks lake Kalote with its quiet and serene landscape. However, for a village that people visit to experience traditional rural life, its children are tightening their grip on squash rackets.
About 200 players from the academy, out of which over 100 from the village alone, train day and night to master the two-player sport that involves a racket and a hollow ball played in a four-walled court. The game’s objective is to beat your opponent by hitting the ball on the wall in front so as to make it difficult for the other to play their turn.
But the villagers have risen to fame on the squash scoreboard all thanks to the five-times National Squash Champion Ritwik Bhattacharya, who established Squash Temple and Real…
