The Hindu : Sport / Squash : Shelley Kitchen sinks Joshna Chinappa as Indian challenge ends

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 06, 2006

Sport

Sport - Squash

Shelley Kitchen sinks Joshna Chinappa as Indian challenge ends

V.V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD : The Indian challenge in the Qatar Airways Challenge 2006 WISPA squash championship came to an end when Joshna Chinappa was shown the door by 10th seed Shelley Kitchen of New Zealand with a methodical 9-4, 9-1, 7-9, 9-4 victory in the first round of main draw at Secunderabad Club here on Wednesday.

Although the Indian player started off in style taking a 4-1 lead in the first game with some delectable forehand drops, the 20-year-old Joshna lost her rhythm soon after allowing her rival to bounce back. Quick to realise that Joshna had a weak backhand, Shelley exploited it to the full. The second game ended even before Joshna could realise what was happening in just five minutes with Shelley placing the winners at will.

In the third game however, Joshna showed glimpses of her jumping into a 5-1 lead very quickly. It was also a game where Shelley gestured to the jury every time a `stroke' was awarded for she felt `let play' would have been the right option. Despite levelling the scores at 6-all and 7-all, Shelley struggled as Joshna picked up some crucial points on the forehand with gentle drop strokes.

Erratic

In the fourth game, Shelly raced away to a 5-1 lead. And Joshna's game became erratic and her bid to cut short the rallies with some bold strokes went in vain. She even fumbled with some simple drops on the forehand. With Joshna's game gone awry, the task for Shelly was made as she clinched the game and the match in 50 minutes.

Joshna confessed that her opponent scored the winners when it mattered most with her speed and that she let go some simple scoring opportunities. "The lesson I learnt was that anyone is beatable if there is the required discipline."

Earlier, unseeded Kasey Brown of Australia surprised 15th seed Pamela Nimmo of Scotland 9-3, 6-9, 9-3, 9-4 in 52 minutes. World No.1 Nicol David scored a fluent 9-3, 9-3, 9-2 win against Raneem El Weleily of Egypt in another first round game.

The results: Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt Carla Khan (Pak) 9-5, 9-2, 9-0; Rebecca Chiu (Hkg) bt Runa Reta (Can) 9-3, 9-4, 9-4; Tania Bailey (Eng) bt Tegwen Malik (Wal) 9-4, 9-6, 5-9, 9-6; Nicolette Fernandes (Guy) bt Annelize Naude (Ned) 9-6, 0-9, 9-7, 9-7; Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt Tricia Chuah (Mas) 9-3, 9-3, 9-0; Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 9-2, 9-5, 9-7; Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) bt Sharon Wee (Mas) 9-2, 9-7, 9-3; Laura Lengthhorn (Eng) bt Jaclyn Hawkes (Nzl) 9-5, 5-9, 7-9, 9-1, 9-5; Isabelle Stoehr (Fra) bt Amelia Pittock (USA) 9-0, 9-0 (retd); Jenny Duncalf (Eng) bt Melissa Martin (Aus) 9-1, 9-3, 9-0; Lauren Briggs (Eng) bt Engy Kheirallah (Egy) 6-9, 9-4, 9-4, 9-3; Vicky Botwright (Eng) bt Sarah Kippax (Eng) 9-4, 9-0, 9-1; Kasey Brown (Aus) bt Pamella Nimmo (Sco) 9-3, 6-9, 9-3, 9-4; Alison Waters (Eng) bt Suzie Pierrepont (Eng) 9-2, 9-2, 9-0; Shelly Kitchen (Nzl) bt Joshna Chinappa (Ind) 9-4, 9-1, 7-9, 9-4; Nicol David (Mas) bt Raneem El Weleily (Egy) 9-3, 9-3, 9-2.

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