Suchde Shines Bright in Scotland

Before competing in a single match for the No. 3 Harvard men’s squash team, freshman Siddharth Suchde has done something no other Crimson squash player has ever accomplished.

After training with the team in Los Angeles for the first half of winter break, Suchde jetted over to Europe and became the first-ever Harvard player to win the Junior Scottish Open. Sophomore Will Broadbent, Suchde’s teammate, came close—he lost in the finals when he was 18 years old. The tournament—which is open to the top players in the world under the age of 19—is widely thought of as one of the premier tournaments in squash.

“Winning the Scottish Open is [winning] a world-class event,” coach Satinder Bajwa said. “Many of the players playing are in the top 10 in the world, so Siddharth played really well and his Scottish Open victory was a wonderful world-class win.”

Suchde nursed a sore hamstring through the early part of the collegiate season, missing Harvard’s first two matches, but recovered in time to dominate the elite field of 64 in Scotland.

“At times it can be really tough,” Suchde said of playing international tournaments. “You never really know how good someone is from another country, and everyone is always getting better. Everyday you prepare for a match, and no matter how easy it goes, it is mentally tiring.”

Suchde—who entered the tournament as the second seed—defeated top-seeded Jose Angel Becerill of Mexico 10-8, 9-4, 9-2 to claim the championship. By knocking off Becerill, Suchde not only became the first Cantab to win the prestigious tournament but also the first Indian to do so.

After growing up in India, Suchde went to boarding school in Scotland when he was 14. Despite moving away from his homeland, Suchde remains somewhat of a celebrity in his native country.

“He’s a big shot in India,” co-captain Ziggy Whitman said. “They even changed the dates of their national championship tournament to accommodate his academic schedule last year.”

Crimson coaches recruited Suchde to Harvard after spotting him at another international tournament last year. Although he had other offers, Suchde had an interesting reason for putting Harvard at the top of his list.

“I got the forms for Princeton and Yale and kept them under my bed,” Suchde said. “I saw there were five essays for Princeton and thought ‘God, forget that.’”

Fortunately for Bajwa and the entire squash team, the common application isn’t quite as intimidating.

As the season begins to heat up for the Crimson later this month, Suchde will be counted on to play a big role in Harvard’s quest for a national championship. Despite his freshman status, Suchde is unquestionably one of the more talented players on the team.

“I think he will lead the team at either number one or number two if he’s injury free,” Bajwa said. “As a freshman, he’s probably one of the most prominent stars we’ve had in years…He’ll definitely be a first team All-American if not rookie of the year.”

Besides his obvious talent, Suchde has impressed his teammates with his dedication and work-ethic, even though he has yet to see any action.

“It is a great feeling to have a guy like Sid, such a gentleman, so talented, so experienced, on our team,” Whitman said. “Sid is a goddamned gem.”

—Staff writer David H. Stearns can be reached at stearns@fas.harvard.edu