Sport - Squash   

Saurav Ghosal does India proud

CHENNAI JAN. 7. After Joshna Chinappa it was the turn of another prodigious talent Saurav Ghosal from Chennai to show his mettle. The Lady Andal school student has won the much-coveted British Junior Open Under-19 title, unprecedented in the history of Indian squash. Last year Joshna had won the Under-17 title in the same tournament.

Saurav who has been making waves in the International Squash arena for the last 12 months did India proud with this glorious victory. Seeded fifth in this tournament, which has always been looked upon as one of the premier world junior events, Saurav broke the stranglehold of Egypt and Pakistan with a 33-minute victory over the top Egyptian Adel El Said 9-0, 9-6, 9-1. Adel Said had earlier accounted for Pakistan's Khalid Atlas in the quarterfinals.

Not since this tournament began in 1980 has an Indian created as much ripple as Ghosal who is just 17 and has two more years to re-enact the current feat. A pupil at the ICL Squash Academy in Chennai, this talented youngster's work ethics can be a coach's dream. His hard work paid off last night, as he outran and outplayed his six-foot tall opponent who was caught on the wrong foot time and again.

Added to the happy tidings was that for the first time in the British Junior Open, India had finalists in two premier events — Boys U-19 and Girls U-19. Joshna could have in fact made it a double for India but pitted against the highly-rated and top seed Egyption Omneya Abdel Kawy, the current World junior champion, she lost the final. Though the Indian put up a valiant effort, her challenge was set aside by the Omneya who took her fourth successive British Junior Open U-19 title by with a 9-4, 9-0, 9-7 victory.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

Cricket

• Dravid to don the big gloves
• ESPN to telecast VB series live
• Vidyut weaves a magic
  
  Tennis
  
• Lisnard dumps Dupuis
• How to keep spectator interest going
  
  Hockey
  
• Azlan Shah Trophy from today
  
  Chess
  
• Arun, Mary reign supreme
  
  Sports : General
  
• Anju George dominates
  
  Squash
  
• Saurav Ghosal does India proud
  
  

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu