hari om tripathi

The Khelo India Youth Games: In the early 2000s, Hari Om Tripathi coached 2022 Asian Games mixed doubles gold medallist Dipika Pallikal to the national Under-13 girls squash title, the first major trophy for any of his players.

Tripathi was one of the first coaches at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai, and it is no wonder that the former national coach's three children grew up watching and playing the sport. Two of them, Ansh and Unnati Tripathi, are having a homecoming of sorts as they will be representing Uttar Pradesh in the 6th Khelo India Youth Games 2023 at the same Indian Squash Academy from Saturday.

“We grew up playing here. This is like home for us,” says Ansh, pointing to the Indian Squash Academy courts.