The Hindu : Sport / Squash : Joshna Chinappa makes the main draw

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 05, 2006

Sport

Sport - Squash

Joshna Chinappa makes the main draw

Principal Correspondent

HYDERABAD : India's Joshna Chinappa seemed to be in the mood to prove a point or two in the qualifying round of the Qatar Airways Challenge 2006 WISPA squash championship, which began at Secunderabad Club Courts here on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old Joshna, who was denied a wild card, got the better of Louise Crome of New Zealand 9-1, 9-0 in just 12 minutes before the latter retired due to illness.

"I knew I deserved a wild card. In a way, it only inspired me to come up with a special performance. I am really pleased with the way things have gone for me in the beginning," said a delighted Joshna.

The Chennai-based girl never looked nervous. "I was just keeping the ball in and it worked out well."

In the process, Joshna emulated Misha Grewal of Delhi who was the first Indian to break into the big league when she qualified for the main draw in the 2005 Manchester Open.

Incidentally, the World junior runner-up from India happened to be the lone survivor after the qualifying rounds.

The results: Qualifying round: Suzie Pierrepont (Eng) bt Jenna Gates (Eng) 9-1, 3-9, 10-8, 9-1; Joshna Chinappa (Ind) bt Louise Crome (NZ) 9-1, 9-0 (retd); Runa Reta (Can) bt Anwesha Reddy (Ind) 9-0, 9-2, 9-0; Sarah Kippax (Eng) bt Orla Noom (Ned) 1-9, 10-8, 9-3, 9-5; Nicolette Fernandes (Guyana) bt Manuela Manetta (Ita) 9-2, 7-9, 9-6, 9-6; Kasey Brown (Aus) bt Shivangi Paranjpe (Ind) 9-0, 9-0, 9-1; Tricia Chuah (Mas) bt Dipika Pallikal (Ind) 6-9, 9-1, 5-9, 9-2, 9-2; Carla Khan (Pak) bt Surbhi Misra (Ind) 9-1, 9-0, 9-0.

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