New Delhi [India], Nov 5 (ANI): World number 11, Saurav Ghosal, who is India's top-ranked squash player, has opted out of Senior Squash National Championship to be held in New Delhi in December.

Citing rest due to "extremely busy" international season as reason for not featuring in the national tournament, the defending champion posted a message on his Twitter handle.

Ghosal, in his message stated that he has played in every national championship since he was 17 and it was with a very heavy heart that he had taken the decision to skip it.

"I feel it is in my best interest to rest my body and mind at the end of a gruelling year of competing," wrote Ghosal. I believe this break will help me prepare in the best possible way for the new season starting in January 2019. You can be rest assured I have not taken this decision lightly and fully appreciate the significance of playing the Nationals," wrote the 32-year-old in his message.

"I feel it is in my best interest to rest my body and mind at the end of a grueling year of competing. I believe this break will help me prepare in the best possible way for the new season in January 2019," he further wrote.

Ghosal, a 12-time national champion represented the country in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and Jakarta Asian Games. He has played 13 tournaments on the Professional Squash Association tour apart from the Commonwealth Games and Asiad. He had also won the Indian Open in February.

The last tournament Ghosal played in was the Qatar Classic last week, where he lost in the third round. (ANI)

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