The Hindu : Sport / Squash : Ritwik back with a bang

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Thursday, Aug 16, 2007
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Sport - Squash

Ritwik back with a bang

S.R. Suryanarayan

SQUASH / Harinder overcomes Suchde

CHENNAI: Former National squash champion Ritwik Bhattacharya returned to competition with a touch of confidence that was apparent in his straight-game win over compatriot Gaurav Nandrajog which gave him a quarterfinal berth in the ICL Chennai Open circuit II here on Wednesday.

Injuries and then a knee surgery had forced Ritwik into a lay-off for nearly six months. The intervening period was one of introspection for this Delhi player who used to have a busy international schedule.

“Let me enjoy myself” is his motto as he resumes his career with a new zeal, but with a definite intent to take every match as it comes.

Against Gaurav, who many thought would stretch the senior pro, Ritwik played according to his pace, as he stressed on accuracy rather than power. The soft touches to the corners and the angled returns were typical of his style, as Ritwik rather easily went about demolishing Gaurav’s plans.

Two games in quick time meant Ritwik looked set for an early finish. But Gaurav decided on a late fight, even led briefly in the third. The repeated ‘let’ calls reflected the closeness of the fight.

But a few effective forehand flourishes by the experienced Ritwik, each turning a winner as the ball either eluded Gaurav or died on striking the wall, were enough to put the finishing touches.

Earlier there was a rousing contest involving the fast-rising ICL academy boy Harinder Pal Singh and Siddharth Suchde.

Harinder posted his first win over Siddharth in five games.

The 51-minute match was replete with rallies and some incredible returns. Harinder’s best came in the decider.

Down 4-7 he came up with three brilliant forehand kills to clinch the issue.

The results: Pre-quarterfinals: Ritwik Bhattacharya (Ind) bt Gaurav Nandrajog (Ind) 11-6, 11-4, 11-8; Mohd Sayed Mahmoud Aly (Egy) bt Parth Sharma (Ind) 11-3, 11-8, 3-11, 9-11, 11-7; Dick Lau (Hkg) bt Karim A.G.A. Samy (Egy) 11- 6, 11- 8 , 11- 6; Omar Tarek Mahm Aly (Egy) bt Jonas Laursen (Den) 11- 4, 11- 9, 11- 7; Naresh Kumar (Ind) bt Hitham Ashoush (Egy) 11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-2; Harinder Pal Singh (Ind) bt Siddharth Suchde (Ind) 11-2, 11-4, 11-7, 3-11, 11-9; Parthiban Ayappan (Ind) bt Akshay Deepak (Ind) 11-5, 11-4, 11-3; Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (Egy) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (Egy) 11- 6, 11- 5, 11-10.