Gaurav Jalan learnt to focus and persevere, thanks to squash

The mPokket founder plays the sport two-three times a week to relax.

By Maleeva Rebello, ET Bureau | Nov 11, 2019, 08.22 AM IST

Gaurav Jalan said he plays squash to take his mind off work.

Gaurav Jalan, founder of digital lending platform mPokket, is an avid squash player. He says he plays the sport two-three times a week to relax and get his mind off work.

“Considering how intense and fast-paced squash can be, I find myself absolutely focussed when I am playing. I let nothing distract me from the sport when I am on the court. I generally turn to a game of squash when I want to take my mind off work,” he says.

In fact, it’s been more than just a game; it’s also a teacher of sorts. “It has taught me the importance of perseverance. I have witnessed the real-life applicability of the idiom ‘If you don’t give up, you may end up achieving the goal’. This is also an important characteristic for a good leader,” he says.

Game, Set, Split: Naomi Osaka And Other Tennis Aces Who Parted Ways From Their Coaches

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The coming together of Djokovic (R) and Becker (L) as player and coach caught the world’s imagination in 2013. The Serbian star went on to win six Grand Slams under Becker and held all four major titles. However, three years later, the pair parted ways and it was clear that Becker wasn’t too happy. Speaking about Djokovic, he said, “He didn’t spend as much time on the practice court in the last six months as he should have, and he knows that.”