The Hindu : Sport : Saurav, Joshna the only bright spots

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 28, 2005

Sport

Sport

Saurav, Joshna the only bright spots

By S.R. Suryanarayan

India's Saurav Ghosal (right) who beat Amir Atlas Khan of Pakistan in the semifinals of the 12th Asian junior squash championship in Chennai on Thursday. — Photo: Vino John

CHENNAI, JAN. 27. When the newly crowned Asian champion, Amir Atlas Khan, lost his first match of the team championship to Saurav Ghosal it caused a flutter and the question on everybody's lips was, "can India beat the defending champion, Pakistan?" But the loss did not affect Pakistan, which with its depth of talent, carved out a 2-1win to move into the boys' team final in the Asian junior squash championship here on Thursday.

Earlier the girls' semifinal also moved on similar lines for India with Joshna Chinappa winning her singles only to see Hong Kong post a 2-1 win.

In the finals on Friday, Pakistan will take on Kuwait in the boys' section while Hong Kong and Malaysia will clash for the girls' honours. While Kuwait made short work of Hong Kong 2-0, Malaysia defeated Singapore 3-0.

Day's highlight

The day's highlight was undoubtedly Saurav's win over the 16-year-old Amir. The Pakistani, who hardly put a foot wrong in the open events earlier, inexplicably lacked the zip today. "It was one of those days when he looked lazy on court," said coach Rehmat Khan while admitting that Amir's loss definitely put pressure on Pakistan.

Though Amir confessed that he felt tired it does not take away any credit from Saurav's brave and near flawless display. It seemed a calculated strategy where the accent was to test the Pakistani on the forecourt. It spoke of Saurav's confidence that he repeatedly played the drop shot with panache. Gone was that tendency to miss the area above the tin. Added to that he kept changing the direction of the ball to make Amir work hard.

Where Amir nearly always caught up with the ball earlier, Saurav in this match made him look anything but a champion. Rallies were few while placements were the order of the day as Saurav kept his cool amidst vociferous cheering from his teammates and executed his intentions with a touch of class.

The outcome

For all this, Saurav's win had only helped neutralise Harinderpal Singh's loss to Aquib Hanif in the first singles. The outcome thus hinged on Sandeep Jangra's ability in the deciding third singles but Bilal Zaman destroyed all hopes with a crisp display.

India now will fight Hong Kong for the bronze medal.

Earlier, Joshna, for the second time in this championship defeated Annie Au, but the lack of depth in the Indian team proved to be its undoing. While V. Anwesha failed in the first singles, Dipika Pallikal managed to win a game but little else. The champion last time, India will thus fight for the bronze with Singapore.

The results: semifinals: Boys: Pakistan bt India 2-1 (Aquib Hanif bt Harinderpal Singh 9-6, 9-0, 9-3; Amir Atlast Khan lost to Saurav Ghosal 5-9, 1-9, 2-9; Bilal Zaman bt Sandeep Jangra 9-6, 9-4, 9-4); Kuwait bt Hong Kong 2-0 (Salem F. Mohammad bt Max Lee 9-7, 10-8, 6-9, 9-4; Abdullah Al Mezayen bt Chiu Ho Fai 9-2, 9-1, 9-0).

Girls: Hong Kong bt India 2-1 (Joey Chan bt V. Anwesha Reddy 9-3, 9-4, 9-1; Annie Au lost to Joshna Chinappa 9-10, 6-9, 9-2, 6-9; Chiu Ka Kei bt Dipika Pallikal 9-1, 9-2, 5-9, 9-5); Singapore lost to Malaysia 0-3 (Nicole Chua lost to Siti Munirah 3-9, 9-5, 7-9, 6-9; Charlene Neo lost to Sally Looi 0-9, 0-9, 0-9; Pamela Chua lost to Low Wee Wern 0-9, 2-9).

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