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Arman and Sunanya Champions
(Sub-junior / Junior National Championship, Ajmer, 24-29 Oct)
Arman Jindal of Maharashtra and Sunayna Kuruvilla of Tamil Nadu are the latest U-19 national squash champions. Their success came on the final day of the championship. While Arman's win was in keeping with his number one seeding (he beat second seed Rutvik Rau of Maharashtra), Sunayna, the second seed had the better of her state-mate as also ISA academy mate Ashita Pranaya Bhengra, the top seed in straight games. There were interesting moments in other categories also. The U-17 boys section saw a scintillating contest between eventual winner the second seed Utkarsh Baheti of Rajasthan and top seed Saksham Choudhary of Delhi. What impressed the National Coach Cyrus Poncha, who was in Ajmer was the closeness of matches in this boys' section. Saksham, he said had only the previous day played a five-game do-or-die contest against Tushar Shahani in the semi-final.
“The match had gone to the fifth game and the two players were cramping during their 110 minute duel and yet they stuck on. The determination shown and grit need to be complimented. That showed their character, something that should do them good as they grow up for tougher contests,” he said. What also heartened him was the overall depth in talent in various other age groups. This augurs well for the future. Yet another keen match was second seed Maharashtra boy Ekambir Singh's match against top seed K.S. Arihant of Tamil Nadu in the U-11 section. In the girl's section the triumph of Gitanjali Vasudevan in the U-13 category needs special mention. The Chennai girl, seeded 3/4 downed the second seed Kaavya Bansal of Maharashtra. Equally noteworthy was the win of Maharashtra player Diya Yadav, the second seed over the top seed Anahat Singh of Delhi in the U-11 section. In all over 750 boys and girls had taken part in the SRFI National Championship which was jointly organised by the Rajasthan Squash Rackets Association, Surbhi Misra Sports Foudation (SMSF), the Mayo College and Mayo College Girls School. This noted educational institution had last hosted this championship in 2007.
Final Match Results
Click to watch Replay
BU11 - Ekambir Singh (2), MH, def. Arihant Ks (1), TN, 11-9 11-9 8-11 4-11 11-8
BU13 - Paarth Ambani (2), MH, def. Shaurya Bawa (5/8), DL, 13-11 7-11 11-9 11-9
BU15 - Neel Joshi (1), MH, def. Arnaav Sareen (3/4), MH, 13-11 8-11 11-9 11-2
BU17 - Utkarsh Baheti (2), RJ, def. Saksham Choudhary (1), DL, 11-8 9-11 11-7 8-11 11-8
BU19 - Arman Jindal (1), MH, def. Rutvik Rau (2), MH, 11-9 11-9 12-10
GU11 - Diya Yadav (2), MH, def. Anahat Singh (1), DL, 11-6 11-9 12-10
GU13 - Gitanjali Vasudevan (3/4), TN, def. Kaavya Bansal (2), MH, 11-3 11-7 7-11 13-11
GU15 - Ananya Dabke (1), MH, def. Aishwarya Khubchandani (3/4), MH, 11-1 9-11 11-2 11-7
GU17 - Yoshna Singh (2), MH, def. Samita S (3/4), TN, 12-10 11-4 7-11 11-5
GU19 - Sunayna Kuruvilla (2), TN, def. Ashita Pranaya Bhengra (1), TN, 11-2 11-0 11-6
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Saurav loses to Diego Elias (Qatar Classic, Doha, 27 Oct- 3 Nov)
Former junior world champion and currently at a career high world rank of 15, Diego Elias of Peru shocked India's national champion Saurav Ghosal 11-8, 11-11-6, 11-9 in the pre-quarterfinal round.
Twice earlier, the last more than a year ago, Ghosal had the upperhand over the Peruvian and won on both the occasions. But the young man, not even 21 years has come a long way since, gone higher than Saurav in world rankings. He showed why he was good with a steady approach to beat the Indian, who had come into the main round as a qualifier. Earlier, Saurav Ghosal had looked untroubled in the first round when he ousted higher ranked Daryl Selby of England comfortably at 11-4, 11-8, 11-2.
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Joshna and Dipika make early exit (Carol Weymuller, New York, 17-23 Oct)
Joshna and Dipika succumbed to their Egyptian opponents in the very first round.. Dipika it must be said was unlucky to get pitted against the second seed Raneem El Welily and it was 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 defeat. But Sixth seeded Joshna however faced a tough fight against Salma Hany and as it happened lost to the latter for the first time in seven meetings. Salma won 9-11, 13-11, 14-16, 11-5, 12-10 in what was one of the longest match in this year's edition.
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Saurav's exciting journey (Channel VAS championship, Surrey 16-22 Oct)
Indian star Saurav Ghosal's exciting journey ended at the semi-final stage with the top seed Mohamed El Shorbagy of Egypt beating him 13-11, 11-8, 11-9. Ghosal had come into this tournament as a qualifier and beaten two seeded players thereafter en route to the last four but the former world number one , El Shorbagy proved a tough nut to crack. Still it was not an easy match for the Egyptian, who even saved a game-ball in the first game. Even though Ghosal played high standards forcing El Shorbagy to earn his points, the Indian could not dominate beyond a point. Still Ghosal had much to relish. After two rounds of tough qualifying phase matches, Ghosal showed his mettle by dislodging the third seed Marwan El Shorbagy of Egypt in the first round 11-7, 11-7, 11-2 to reach the milestone of 200 match wins in the PSA circuit. This Egyptian may not have posed much of a problem but in the next round, the Indian had a tough customer in another Egyptian , the eighth seeded Mohamed Abouelghar. Ghosal came back from being 1-2 in game scores at one stage to convert the 68 minute in his favour with some shrewd control over the pace of the match. The Indian won 11-9, 5-11, 8-11,11-3, 11-8 in the end.
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Joshna goes down fighting (US Open, Philadelphia 5-14 Oct)
Indian star Joshna Chinappa showed fight but that was not enough to trouble the fifth seeded Nouran Gohar. The Egyptian found her way to wriggle out and carve a 9-11, 11-9, 11-8,11-5 victory to make it to the quarterfinal. The near one hour tussle, which had several close moments could have brought a surprise gift for the Indian. But the first game was the lone gain ultimately for the thirteenth seed Joshna. She led in the second game but lost her way and again in the third she was 8-6 up but Gohar playing with lot of intent doused the enthusiasm of the Indian. Earlier in the first round, Joshna, defeated her team mate and doubles partner Dipika Pallikal Karthik. Joshna won 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9 in 45 minutes.
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