Chaudhry Apologizes

Look what Baset Chaudhry did yesterday - he apologized for his wild behavior. (See my earlier post about the incident)

Following a post-match sportsmanship incident involving Trinity’s senior co-captain, Baset Chaudhry, and his Yale opponent, Kenneth Chan, Trinity’s Chaudhry issued an apology for his behavior.
Monday, less than 24 hours after the match, Chaudhry sent an apology to Yale Coach Dave Talbott and the Yale team. Separately, he apologized to the head coaches and players of each of the 63 members of the College Squash Association (CSA), the governing body for college squash in the United States.
The incident occurred at the conclusion of a match that clinched the national championship for Trinity for a record 12th consecutive year. The Trinity player confronted the Yale player verbally and showed poor sportsmanship.
“Both Baset and I have sent sincere and heartfelt apologies,” said Head Squash Coach Paul Assaiante. “Like all intercollegiate sports, squash is an intense and competitive game. We ask that our student-athletes respect their opponents on and off the court, and commit to the highest ideals of sportsmanship. Baset’s regrettable episode was a momentary lapse of judgment by a young man who has been an accomplished student, a respected campus leader, and an exemplary team captain.”

Baset Chaudhry's Squash Court Behavior = Embarrassment

Squash, and especially college squash, is not a glamorous or high profile sport in this country. In fact, it is often confused with racket ball. Ughhh.

More often than not squash's elite players and teams fly under the radar. For example, the Trinity men's squash team, who recently won their 12th straight national title, don't usually make headlines like teams that compete in more mainstream sports. (That said, there was one good article that celebrated the Trinity program.) In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if many have never seen a squash match.

The game itself is exciting and needs more national attention. But not all attention is created equal. The outburst of Baset Chandhry, one of squash's elite players and Trinity's #1, was outrageous and a complete embarrassment. Baset's behavior did a serious disservice to the game of squash and might have solidified squash's image as a quirky sport for another generation of potential players (this is probably an exaggeration but you get my point).

Additionally, Chandhry's behavior overshadowed the team's accomplishments - 12th Consecutive National Title. To make matters worse the outburst has already appeared on ESPN and I'm sure it will make its way onto ESPN's Sports Nation.

Although the damage is done, I hope the Trinity coach has spoken off line to Baset and asked him to apologize to the Yale men's squash team, the judges, and his teammates. As far as punishment, I hope his personal embarrassment is enough to correct his behavior going forward.