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21-Nov:
Harinderpal & Moverley take Chennai
titles
 India’s
Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu displayed his skill and will in equal
measure to clinch his second PSA title in two months as he quelled
the challenge of James Snell of England in the finals of the
Government of India sponsored Indian Challenger Series here at the
ISA courts this evening.
Earlier on September 19 last, Sandhu had clinched his maiden PSA
title at the same venue in the Indian Challenger Series No:3 and
today, he scored a confident 11-6, 13-11, 11-7 win in 38 minutes
against Snell.
In women’s final between Fiona Moverley and Siti Munirah Jusoh of
Malaysia, the former won her back to back titles in two weeks.
Today, Moverley defeated Jusoh at 10-12, 12-10, 11-4, 14-12 in 45
minutes in a match.
 Moverley
had won her maiden WISPA title in Spain last week in a similar level
tournament. Losing the first game narrowly, Moverley, a touch artist
was sound in her volleys and drop shots and used it to great effect.
She actually made Jusoh run from end to end but the Malasian stood
up with positive result to a degree, as she became tired and was
gasping for breath.
In the men’s final, India’s Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, seeded third,
who had won his maiden PSA title, carried the momentum from
yesterday’s performance in keeping Snell at bay from matching him
from both skill and reach for the ball.
Starting off his quest for his second title at home before his
supportive crowd, Sandhu rose to a 7-3 margin from being 3-3 and
never looked back before winning the first game. His response to the
low returns of Snell was praise worthy and only for brief periods in
the second and third games, Snell had the leeway to go in to the
attack. But Snell, ranked 107 in the world failed to show
consistency to the variety of pace, straight drives and drops of
Sandhu in both the games.
The Indian for his part was able to shift gears whenever needed and
Sandhu’s strategy helped him score vital points, especially in the
second game when Snell went on to lead 8-7. Both the games were
fought closely by the rivals but Sandhu gained the momentum again
when he obtained two “stroke” points from 8-all to lead 10-9 in the
second game. Serving for the game, Sandhu hit the tin and Snell
leveled the scores. The rivals dug themselves up for winning the
next two points and involved in long rallies, which had mixture of
counter attacks.
 Once
Sandhu came on to the front, he showed tremendous amount of
determination to gain the required two points. Sandhu’s game plan to
pin Snell at the back court and then making him run back and forth
on the court helped him win the second game. Snell charged from the
back court to return a drop shot but Sandhu, still in the front
played yet another drop, this time a more slower one. Snell managed
to get up from the wooden floor after returning a drop but walked
back to the exit since there was no chance of his making the ball
good. Thus Sandhu led 2-0.
In the third, Sandhu took a swift 9-4 lead and then closed in for
the two points, though giving away three points on negative play.
Mr.Srivatsan Subramaniam, Secretary General, Squash Federation of
India, who was the chief guest distributed the trophies and prize
money to the winners and runner-up.
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 Indian
Challenger #5 2009
16-21 Nov, Chennai, $6k |
Round One
18 Nov |
Quarters
19 Nov |
Semis
20 Nov |
Final
21 Nov |
[1] Andrew Wagih (Egy)
11-5,11-8,9-11,11-3(26m)
[Q] Islam El Fiky (Egy) |
[1] Andrew Wagih
11-8, 11-8, 11-4 (20 m
[7] Choong Kam Hing |
[1] Andrew Wagih
11-5, 11-8,
12-10 (29
[7] Harinderpal Sandhu |
[7] Harinderpal Sandhu
11-6, 13-11, 11-7 (38m)
[2] James Snell |
[7] Choong Kam Hing (Mas)
11-4,11-6,12-10( 25m)
[Q] Vikas Jangra (Ind) |
[7] Harinderpal Sandhu (Ind)
7-11,11-7,8-11,11-7,11-8(44m)
[Q] Abhishek Pradar (Ind) |
[7] Harinderpal Sandhu
13-11, 7-11, 16-14, 11-9, 11-4 (69 m
Gaurav Nandrajog |
[8] Basem Makrem (Egy)
11-8,11-5,11-5 (30m)
Gaurav Nandrajog (Ind) |
[Q] Sandeep Jangra
8-11,7-11,11-9,12-10,11-8(63m)
[5] Ahmed Hawas (Egy) |
[5] Ahmed Hawas
1-11, 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9 ( 43
Ravi Dixit |
[5] Ahmed Hawas
11-3, 11-6, 11-7 (29
[2] James Snell |
Ravi Dixit (Ind)
11-9,9-11,5-11,11-9,11-9(47m)
[4] Aqeel Rehman (Aut) |
Jo Wen Ng (Mas)
9-11,11-13,11-7,11-2,11-3 (42m)
[6] Naresh Jumar (Ind) |
[6] Naresh Jumar
13-11, 11-4, 11-8 (37
[2] James Snell |
Ramit Tandon (Ind)
14-12,11-6,11-6 (29m)
[2] James Snell (Eng) |
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 Indian
Challenger #3(5) 2009
18-21 Nov, Chennai, $4k |
Round One
18 Nov |
Quarters
19 Nov |
Semis
20 Nov |
Final
21 Nov |
[1] Siti Munirah Jusoh (Mas)
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[1] Siti Munirah Jusoh
11-7, 11-7, 11-6 ( M
[8]Aparajitha Balamurukan |
[1] Siti Munirah Jusoh
11-5, 11-9, 13-11 (25m)
[4] Zoe Petranovsky |
[1] Siti Munirah Jusoh
10-12, 12-10, 11-4, 14-12 (45m)
[2] Fiona Moverley |
Maggy Marshall (Aus)
11-5,11-6,1-11,12-10
[8]
Aparajitha Balamurukan (Ind) |
[6] Anaka Alankamony (Ind)
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[6] Anaka Alankamony
11-8, 11-6, 2-11, 11-8 (29
[4] Zoe Petranovsky |
[4] Zoe Petranovsky (Aus)
--- |
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[6] Carrie Hastings (Eng) |
[6] Carrie Hastings
11-4, 14-12, 11-8 (32
[3] Lauren Selby |
[3] Lauren Selby
11-4, 12-10, 11-5 (21
[2] Fiona Moverley |
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[3] Lauren Selby (Eng) |
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[7] Anwesha Reddy (Ind) |
[7] Anwesha Reddy
11-4, 11-7, 11-5 (18 m
[2] Fiona Moverley |
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[2] Fiona Moverley (Eng) |
20-Nov:
Semis in Chennai
India’s Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu making great strides this season
having won his maiden PSA title in September last is on way to
winning his second as he scalped the top seeded Andrew Wagih Shoukry
of Egypt in the semi final of the Indian PSA Challenger Series No:5
sponsored by the Government of India Sports Ministry at the Indian
Squash Academy courts here this evening.
Harinder, who had clinched the PSA title here in the Indian
Challenger series in this September had shown great improvement in
his game since moving his base to Pontefort (England) to pursue his
studies. Being coached by world famous Malcom Willstrom of England,
Harinder, ranked 102 in the world, was businesslike in demolishing
the highly rated Shoukry at 11-5, 11-8, 12-10 in 29 minutes.
In the other men’s semi final, James Snell (2nd seed-England),
ranked 107 in the PSA did not yield any room for Ahmed Hawas (5th
seed-Egypt) throughout the match and won at 11-3, 11-6, 11-7 (29
mins).
The women’s final in the Indian WISPA Challenger Series will be
between top two seeds Siti Munirah Jusoh of Malaysia and Fiona
Moverley of England. Jusoh (ranked 47) beat Zoe Petrovansky (4th
seed-Australia) 11-5, 11-9, 13-11 in 25 mins) and Moverley (ranked
51) toyed with Lauren Selby (England)
11-4, 12-10, 11-5 (21 mins). These two English women played their
match in a casual manner although the tie.
Compared to earlier two matches in this championship, third seeded
Harinder Pal Singh was not only more focused but found his rhythm,
which he used to great effects. From 4-1 initially, the Indian rose
to a sizeable lead of 9-3 with superb mixture of fast and slow paced
game. Rooted himself on the centre of the court and pinning down
Ahmed Hawas to the back, Harinder harried the Egyptian with both
fore and back hands planned shots. Hawas had to work front and back
courts in succession and then stood at the back only to see
Harinder’s drop shots landing close to the centre glass wall. Thus,
Harinder served for the match at 10-5 and scored the winner with a
delectable cross court drop for the first game.
In the second the rivals were equal to the task but Harinder, who
trailed at 2-5 recouped himself well to lead 7-6 and scored three
points in a row to serve for the second game. Here, Ahmed gained two
points but had a tin contact to give the game.
Leading with a 2-0 margin, Harinder was looking for ways to get
control of the game as he trailed 5-8 from being 4-3 at one stage.
Here Shoukry was in full cry and upped the pace to draw the
initiatives from the Indian. The Egyptian was serving for the match
7-10. Harinder kept the rally going longer with total concentration
in returning the ball and then came up with winner with a drop shot
close to the front wall.
With the sparse crowd egging on Harinder answered their call to inch
closer to a possible straight games win. Once he took the point from
the longest rally where the players involved themselves for
countless number of responding each other returns, Shoukry sent a
volley to the corner tin. Then, claiming the next two points became
a formality for Harinder as the Egyptian had already threw in the
towel.
In the Womens semi final, Jusoh, who had come to the court venue 90
minutes ahead of her match was full of concentration in dismissing
Australia’s Zoe Petrovansky (4th seed) 11-5, 11-9, 13-11 in 25
minutes. Petrovansky had her chances but lacked consistency in
failed to put in use her superb retrieving abilities of the ball.
She was at her best most often but ended up yielding negative points
at vital times. Thus Jusoh was able to gain the momentum in winning
the match.
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19-Nov:
Quarters in Chennai
Indian junior Raxi Dixit was cynosure of all eyes as he
displayed tremendous abilities in his hard fought lose to higher
ranked and fifth seeded Ahmed Hawas of Egypt in a quarterfinal that
went in to the wire in the Indian PSA Challenger Series-5 here at
the ISA Courts this evening.
As for the Indian interest, Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu remains the
lone home grown player to be running for honours in the prestigious
championship sponsored by the Union Ministry of Youth and Sports,
Government of India.
Sandhu, who survived the onslaught of Abhishek Pradhan, an up and
coming Junior player and Under-17 National champion yesterday, had
to bring his best against an aggressive Gaurav Nandrajog today in
the quarterfinal tie. Nandrajog is equipped with good ball sense but
he lacked the finesse in converting them, particularly at vital
times as was seen today.
Nandrajog could have wrapped up the match to account for his best
win in recent times but muffed his chances that came his way. Sandhu,
whose raise in world ranking has been phenomenal this year, is known
to be stayer with bundle of energy but lacked the focus completely
against Nandrajog today.
The match was replete of silly errors by the rivals but Sandhu
managed to win a 69 minutes marathon at
13-11, 7-11, 16-14, 11-9, 11-4.
In the other Indian in fray today, Naresh Kumar of India was
defeated by second seed James Snell of England 11-13, 4-11, 8-11.
Dixt, ranked 266 in the World, who quelled the challenge of fourth
seeded Aqeel Rehman of Austria yesterday, was focused but the more
experienced Hawas (ranked 143) brought about his resources in the
decider to win the match at 1-11, 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9.
Dixit kept up the momentum from the beginning as he won the first
game just yielding one point. Hawas perhaps was making assessment of
Dixit’s strength in the first game but the Indian was not giving
away much easily in the second and third games.
In the fourth, Dixit, who twice had the misfortune of failing to
pick the ball which fell on the “sweat” during rally and skidded
away in the earlier games, changed his strategy of keeping the
Egyptian at the back and going for winners. This worked wonders as
he was able to gain vital points, particularly after shorter
rallies. Thus, Dixit, who was trailing at 5-6 and 6-8 at one stage
reeled four points in a row before winning the fourth game.
In the fifth and decider, Dixit from 5-5 scored two winners and gave
a horrid time to the Egyptian. However, the match continued to be
close enough as it became difficult for the rivals to take a point
from the other but Hawas leading 9-8 was too technical in his shot
selections managed to win the game and the match.
In the distaff side, it was a case of the higher ranked overseas
players having a go at the Indian duo in the Indian WISPA Challenger
Series quarterfinal matches. At least, sixth seed Anaka Alankamony
(ranked 113) was able to take a game of fourth seeded Zoe
Petrovansky (ranked 89) of Australia in her
11-8, 11-6, 2-11, 11-8 (29 mins) loss but seventh seeded Anwesha
Reddy (ranked 129) went down in straight games of 11-4, 11-7, 11-5
in 18 minutes to second seeded Fiona Moverley (ranked 51) of
England, who is the likely favourite for the title here on Saturday.
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18-Nov:
Round One in Chennai
The up trend in standard amongst the Indian Junior squash players
was in full bloom as unseeded Ravi Dixit quelled the challenge of
fourth seed Aqeel Rehman of Austria Gaurav Nandrajog scalped eighth
seeded Baseem Makram of Egypt even as Abhishek Pradhan almost upset
his compatriot, third seeded Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu in the
pre-quarterfinals of the Indian PSA Challenger Series No: 5 here
today.
Having won the first game Dixit brought variations in his game,
which was normally seen amongst the most experienced players in top
level matches. Aqeel Rehman, a seasoned campaigner in the
professional circuit was spell bound on number of occasions in the
match, which Dixit won at 11-9, 9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9 in 47
minutes. The decider was noteworthy for Dixit’s exhibition of
delectable drops and variations to lead 7-3 and then 9-5 but yielded
four points in a row before claiming two points for the match.
In the match between Nandrajog and Makram, the Indian was none the
less technical in his clinical straight game victory over the
Egyptian at 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 in 30 minutes.
However, Pradhan versus Sandhu match evoked greater interest as the
former was up to wearing down the favourite. Current National
Under-17 champion, Pradhan carried too many guns against his more
experienced compatriot through out the match but lacked the final
push in the decider, which he was leading at 8-7 before going down
at 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 8-11 in 44 minutes.
In the other matches, top seed Andrew Wagih Shoukry of Egypt beat
his compatriot and qualifier Islam El Fiky at 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3
in 26 minutes, Seventh seed, Choong Kam Hing (Malaysia) defeated
qualifier, Vikas Jangra of India 11-4, 11-6, 12-10 in 25 minutes,
Sandeep Jangra went down fighting to fifth seed Ahmed Hawas of Egypt
At 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 10-12, 8-11 (in 63 mins), Naresh Kumar (Sixth
seed-India) came from behind to get the better of unseeded Jo Wen Ng
(Mal) 9-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-2, 11-3 in 42 minutes and James Snell
(second seed—Eng) disposed off Ramit Tandon (Ind) at 14-12, 11-6,
11-6.
In the lone first round match in the Indian WISPA Challenger Series
event, eighth seeded Indian, Aparajitha Balamurukan defeated
unseeded Maggy Marshall of Australia 11-5, 11-6, 1-11, 12-10 and set
up a quarterfinal clash with top seeded Siti Munirah Jusoh of
Malaysia.
In the other quarterfinal matches, Zoe Petrovansky (4th-Aus) take on
Anaka Alankamony (6th-India), Carrie Hastings (Eng) plays Lauren
Selby (3rd- Eng), while Anwesha Reddy (7th India) take on second
seeded Fiona Moverly of England.
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17-Nov:
Qualifying complete in Chennai
India’s Akshay Deepak, trainee of Indian Squash Academy, displayed
great fighting qualities in almost ousting the top seeded Egyptian
qualifier , Islam El Fiky, ranked 412 in the World Ranking, before
losing his vital second and final qualifying match in the Indian
Challenger No:5 here today.
Akshay’s win would have meant all four Indians filling up the Main
draw slots but went down to Islam at 9-11, 11-2, 11-5, 6-11, 9-11 in
43 minutes even as his other compatriots progressed to the next
stage in all one-sided matches. Islam now plays his country-mate,
Andrew Wagih Shoukry, top seed, in the first round main draw.
17-year-old Akshay carried too many guns against the Egyptian in the
second and third games. In fact, Islam was looking for ideas to
negotiate the returns of Akshay, who rather easily won two games in
a row yielding just two and five points. In the fourth too, akshay
was in his elements initially but lapsed in to concentration
suddenly in giving negative points too often. He could have made a
match of the Egyptian but surrendered rather meakly, mainly due to
lack of experience in converting his shots for positive results. In
the decider too, Akshay was leading 5-3 at one stage. Though he
failed maintain his pace, Akshay managed to lead once again at 9-7
but made two unforced errors in frittering away the match and a
deserving win at that.
In the other three final qualifying matches between all Indians,
Vikas Jangra, his cousin Sandeep Jangra and Abhishek Pradar made the
main draw from easy victories over Naveen Jangra (13-4, 11-4, 11-4),
Deepak Mishra (11-3, 11-4, 11-8) and Balamurugan (11-2, 11-8, 11-7).
In the main draw commencing tomorrow, Vikas jangra plays seventh
seed, Choong Kam Hing of Malaysia (ranked 166), Sandeep crosses with
fifth seed Ahmed Hawas of Egypt (ranked 142) and Abhishek fights
third seed and favourites for the final berth, Harinder Singh Sandhu
of India (ranked 102).
In WISPA Fourth Seed Deon Saffery( Wal) withdrew from the tournament
due to ankle injury.
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16-Nov:
Qualifying under way in Chennai
Promising Indian squash player Deepak Mishra from Delhi was a
bundle of nerves in scoring the winning point in the third game
itself but managed to get the better of his compatriot Kush Kumar
to progress to the second and final qualifying round of the PSA
Indian Challenger Series No:5 here today at the Indian Squash
Academy.
Showing great prowess in all department of the game, Deepak was in
his elements in keeping Kumar at bay most of the time in the first
three games, where the former was able to score winners at will.
In a repeat of the National Under-15 final in Indore last month,
Deepak had claimed the title with a 3-1 margin over Kumar. Having
won the first two games and leading 10-5 in the third game, Deepak,
who has shifted his base from Delhi to ISA in Chennai, was totally
nervous in finishing for the winner and allowed Kumar to overrule
him.
Grabbing the opportunity, Kumar turned the table on his rival with
his strong attacking game but could not match Mishra, who regained
his rhythmic touch and rose to a four point lead initially and went
on to maintain it for winning the match, 11-9,11-9,11-13,9-11,11-6
in 50 minutes.
In another close match amongst the four qualifying matches that were
on view today, Balamurugan and Partiban, coaches in
the ISA here, fought tooth and nail but eventually more experienced
Balamurugan had the last laugh, winning 11-4, 4-11, 11-3, 5-11, 11-5
in 25 minutes.
In the other two matches, Akshay Deepak scored over Rishi
Tandon 11-3, 11-9, 11-6 (24 mins), while Naveen Jangra
defeated Vrishab Koitan 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 in 25 minutes.
In the final qualifying tomorrow, Akshay Deepak has the herculean
task of getting the better of Islam El Fiky of Egypt, who is ranked
World Number 115, while Deepak Misra has to ward off a fighting
Sandeep Jangra. In the other two all Indian matches, Vikas Jangra
takes on his cousin brother, Naveen Jangra, while Balamurugan plays
Ashishek Pradhan.
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