The Hindu : Sport / Squash : Vikram advances

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 28, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Squash

Vikram advances

Chennai: India’s top junior, Vikram Malhotra upset Malaysia’s Kamran Khan in straight games 9-7, 9-3, 9-1 on Friday to reach the boys under-19 semifinals in the Asian junior individual squash championships in Busan, Korea. Vikram plays top seeded Leo Au from Hong Kong next.

Another Indian, Ravi Dixit was, however, stopped 6-9, 2-9, 0-9 at the quarterfinal stage by a steady and clinical Ivan, the second seed from Malaysia.

In the girls section, second seeded Dipika Pallikal struggled and went through five games to defeat Lui Tsz Ling from Hong Kong. Dipika played aggressively through out but Lui hung on retrieving all that was thrown at her. It was in the decisive fifth game with the score tied at 4-4 that Dipika broke away with a series of winners.

Dipika won 10-8, 7-9, 9-4, 6-9, 9-4 and plays home favourite Song Sun-Mi on Saturday.

Anwesha Reddy on the other hand could not do much against Misaki Kobayashi of Japan and went down in four games.

In the girls under-15 category, top seed Anaka Alankamony will play Sachika Balvani in the last four. Anaka defeated Yong Sue Ann of Hong Kong 9-2, 9-7, 9-1 while Sachika swept aside Sri Lanka’s Nadindi Udangawa 9-1, 9-3, 9-2.

However in the bottom half both Aparajitha Balamurukan and Saumya Karki lost in four sets to Hong Kong’s Ka Yi Lee and Ho Ka Po respectively. Being the second seed Aparajitha’s exit was an upset. She lost 10-8, 2-9, 5-9. 1-9. Saumya lost 10-8, 2-9, 7-9, 8-10.

In the boys’ section, Mahesh Mangaonkar, seeded two, defeated Darren Subramaniam (Malaysia) 3-1 while Abhishek Pradhan lost to Yip Tsz Fung (Hong Kong) 1-3.

National coach, Cyrus Poncha said, “I am happy with the performances of Vikram and Dipika, even if the latter was stretched. I am hoping for an upset by Vikram against the top seed tomorrow. Dipika is playing well and has a great chance to win the title.”

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

Sport