The Hindu : Sport / Squash : Joshna Chinappa in final

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004

Sport

Sport - Squash

Joshna Chinappa in final

CHENNAI, OCT. 9. India's National champion, Joshna Chinappa has entered the final of the KCC Perrier Centenary Cup squash tournament, a WISPA event being held at the Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong.

This Chennai girl, playing in only her second WISPA event, shocked the second seed Tegwen Malik of Wales in four games on Saturday. Joshna won 2-9, 9-7, 9-0, 9-5. Speaking to The Hindu from Hong Kong, Joshna said it was an unexpected victory. "I had actually told everyone that I was leaving for home after reaching the semifinals because I knew it would be tough against Tegwen. But I played a tight game that upset the Welsh. Even though I lost the first game, the trend totally changed after I managed the second despite getting stuck at 8-3 for a while", Joshna said. She added that she never allowed her rival to lengthen the rallies in the 40-minute match, often finishing them off with low returns and deep lobs to the backcourt.

Already an Asian champion and quarterfinalist at the last World championship in Cairo not to forget the runner-up finish at the British Open, Joshna's effort has been the best till date by an Indian woman player in a WISPA event. In the final on Sunday, she meets the top seed and seasoned campaigner Rebecca Chiu of Hong Kong. "She is a tough player, beaten me before. But I have nothing to lose and will give my best shot", the Indian quipped.

Earlier she had made a flying start with an upset win over sixth seed Christina Mak (HK) after being down 0-2. The final result of 8-10, 6-9, 9-2, 9-4, 9-6 told the whole story of Joshna's heroic play.

In the quarterfinals, she beat Chinatsu Matsui of Japan 7-9, 9-5, 9-1, 9-1 before carving out one of her best wins in her career.

In the men's PSA event, being held concurrently, India's representative Gourav Nandrajog lost in the quarterfinals to Frenchman Romain Tenant 11-2, 11-6, 11-10.