Nik & Sam relishing Japanese adventure
GB player Nikhil Mohindra believes this week’s FIP Rise Osaka can provide the perfect platform for his bid to make the Team GB European Championship side later this year.
Mohindra and fellow GB international Sam Jones are seeded No 4 in the 6,000 Euro 28-pair draw tournament, with the 22-year-old determined to go deep in the Far East.
However, Nikhil and Sam have been handed a tough draw against Japanese No 1 Leon Taira and former World Padel Tour ace Pablo Pastor, and are in the same top-half of the draw as No 1 seeds Sergio Icardo and Javier Garcia Lopez from Spain.
“Hopefully we can perform well but we probably have the toughest draw possible,” said Nikhil. “But then you want to test yourselves against the best possible as you have to beat them at some stage in the tournament.
“Also playing in Japan is just a tremendous life experience and I don’t think I would ever have had the opportunity to visit Tokyo if it wasn’t for padel and to do it with one of my best friends (Sam) is tremendous,” he added.
After Osaka it will be back to training for Nikhil and Sam at the Bela Padel Academy in Spain, working with GB players Christian Murphy and Louie Harris in preparation for the FIP Rise London Open at Rocks Lane, Chiswick, in August.
“I know that John (Leach) will be making the GB selection after that so it is all about peaking at the right time and that process begins in Osaka this week,” said Nikhil.
The action starts in Osaka today (July 5th). For full details click here.
We wish them both the best of luck! 🎾
