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 Quarters,
Day THREE:
Linda Davie reports from Chennai
What with refereeing matches, looking after some of the local
refs and reporting, it's a bit hectic here in Chennai, but here's a
flavour of some of the matches so far ... |
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Kiwis Crush Malaysians
Linda Davie reports from Chennai
Shelley Kitchen / Glen Wilson (Nzl) bt
Triciah Chuah / Azlan Iskandar (Mas) 9/3, 9/2, 9/6 (17m)
 Azlan
Iskandar will not be tired after this match. The Kiwis concentrated their
fire on Triciah Chuah, who had just finished playing another match before
this one, and definitely was tired. Kitchen threw everything crosscourt,
keeping Triciah on her toes. It could have been a Maori dance, it was
frighteningly effective, but Glen wasn't doing much dancing!
Byron Davis / Cameron White (Aus)
beat
Wai Hang Wong / Roger Ngan (Hkg) 9/5, 9/6, 9/5 (44m)
Aussies Hit Harder !
So far I have been privileged to watch some fast, exciting, squash. Some
players can move you around the court as if playing a game of chess but
not today, not this match ... This was the "let's hit it harder than them"
match.
Big boss Byron led his team to a clean 3/0 win over the unassuming Hong
Kong pairing. Nothing fancy, nothing too clever, no deceptiveness just
plain hitting and it worked.
The first game was long, so many lets asked for and given as they can be
necessary in doubles for the sake of safety.
In the second game I thought the Aussies had it under control as they took
a comfortable 8/3 lead. They held on and won 9/6. The only exciting thing
happened in this game. The Aussies played a ball down the middle, which
can be good tactics in doubles sometimes. Both HK players just looked at
each assumed the other would play it. Everyone laughed, the Aussies walked
to the other service box and then the HK guys
asked for a let. The correct decisiaon was given, a no let, much to their
astonishment and of course everyone else found this amusing.
So into the third and after a long 19 mins the Aussies became the first
pair to reach the semi-finals.
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Qualifying
Day TWO:
Linda Davie reports from Chennai
What with refereeing matches, looking after some of the local
refs and reporting, it's a bit hectic here in Chennai, but here's a
flavour of some of the matches so far ...
Mixed Pool A:
Aussies in Command
D Palmer/R Grinham (Aus)
bt Callum O’Brien/Lara Petera (Nzl) 9/6 (13m), 9/3 (8˝m), 9/3 (9m)
Unusual to find the female in the left hand box, but that is where Lara
played her whole match. She had to take on the brawn of David Palmer. So
most of the match was one female player cross courting to the other female
player ...
The Aussies took time to settle in the first game but one was in no doubt
that this game and this match was heading only one way. The second game
passed much quicker, and although the Kiwis tried their best to change the
momentum in the third, David had another game plan up his sleeve. With his
long reach, and also staying so far up the court, he was able to cut off
any slack cross-courts from Lara.
Rachael Grinham & David Palmer (AUS) bt
Angelique Clifton-Parks & Michael Tootill (RSA) 9-3, 9-3, 11-8 (19m)
In the last round of matches the Aussies again proved too strong, this
time for the
South African pair. After taking the first two games quickly, they took
their foot off the gas in the third, allowing the South Africans, both
gifted shot-makers, to push them to eight-all. Normal service was resumed
as the Australians reeled off the next three points to secure the win.
I haven’t seen all the mixed teams but it will take an outstanding team to
deny this pairing top position. They look as if they have medals in mind
at the next Commonwealth Games to be held in Australia, March 2006.
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Men’s Pool D:
Pakistanis leave it late
Safeerullah Khan/Farrukh Zaman (PAK) bt
Bala Murugan/A Parthiban (IND) 9-7, 7-9, 9-4, 5-9, 9-6 (53m)
This match looked on paper to be a fairly easy one for the Pakistanis but
someone forgot to read the script to the Indian players.
The Pakistanis took the first game comfortably, perhaps too easily, as the
Indian guys came roaring out of the starting blocks in the second.
Although it was not till they were 5 – 6 down that they made the push and
took the game. The third saw the Pakistanis take a 5 – 1 lead and yet
again their opposition made an attack but the Pakistanis held their nerve
and came out winning 9/4.
You could be forgiven for thinking that everyone had learned their lesson
and Pakistan would run out winners 3/1, but India has some supporters by
now and they did their level best to encourage their boys to win. Which
they duly managed 9/5.
I still expected Pakistan to take control, play some good team squash but
they appeared to be trying to win the easy way. This match was never in
the bag and they were fortunate to come out ahead. A bit
disappointing to see two talented players not fulfilling their potential,
but perhaps I do them an injustice - maybe they are allowed an off match!
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Womens Pool B:
Kiwis cruise past Springboks
Louise Crome/Lara Petera
bt
Diana Argyll/Angie Clifton Parks 9/4, 9/4, 9/5 (20m)
These women turned out in beautiful outfits.
The Kiwis wearing their traditional black dresses while the South Africans
were pretty in pink. Both NZ girls were hard hitters and appeared to have
put in some practice.
They were just too accurate for the South Africans, but we were given a
display of shots, from lobs to drops to sneaky cross court drop shots.
These girls had a pocket full of different shots to keep us guessing.
Unfortunately it was over too quickly |
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Men's Pool A:
Indians storm to second success
Ritwik Bhattacharya & Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt
Paul Atkinson & Michael Tootill (RSA) 9-5, 9-3, 9-5 (36m)
A mixture of youth (Saurav Ghosal) combined with experience (Ritwik
Bhattacharys) claimed this clean victory for hosts India. The South
African pairing of Paul Atkinson and Michael Toothill are a good
combination and tried to overwhelm the Indian youngster, the reigning
British Junior Open U19 champion.
Their tactics almost worked at one point in the third when he did
eventually tire, but what he did have was quick hands and no matter how
many times they shifted him from the back to the front, twisted him this
way and that way, for the best part of the match he came up trumps.
His legs I believe were cramping in the third and his partner (Ritwik)
came to the rescue and did what any good partner should do, and that is
give a little help without making your own position volatile.
The local surporters attending the event and were obviously extremely
pleased at their number ones' performance. As I said a clean flowing game
that should give credit to this sport's bid into the Olympics!
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