The Hindu : Sport : India’s historic march

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 10, 2007
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India’s historic march

S.R. Suryanarayan

Ritwik Bhattacharya and Saurav Ghosal play a stellar role

— Photo: V. Ganesan

FANTASTIC EFFORT: Ritwik Bhattacharya (right) gave India a good start by defeating David Evans of Wales in the ICL World men’s squash team championship in Chennai on Sunday.

CHENNAI: India made history by reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in the World team squash championship.

At the ICL courts on Sunday in the 21st edition of the ICL-sponsored championship, India beat Wales 3-0 before a sizeable gathering around the centre court.

What is also significant is that where India succeeded, Pakistan failed — going down 1-2 to Netherlands to go out of the top eight finish in this championship.

It is a different matter that India next faces the top seed Egypt but there is no drawing away from the fact that this will be first occasion the country will finish ahead of Pakistan in a sport which was ruled by the latter for many years thanks to the legendary Khans — Jehangir and Jansher.

Happy tidings

The happy tidings came about in the most unexpected way for the Indians after Ritwik Bhattacharya laid the path with his first match win over David Evans.

Saurav Ghosal was given the match on a platter by another experienced hand Alex Gough after the latter developed hamstring problems on his left leg.

Gough could not go beyond the third game and conceded the match to signal India’s win. With the tie decided, Siddarth Suchde made it an all-win affair for India by winning his singles.

A good start was India’s need and Ritwik played wonderfully, giving little leeway for the experienced David Evans.

There was a method in Ritwik’s approach as he got the drops and drives working to perfection to leave his rangy opponent in a tangle repeatedly.

“I have never seen Ritwik play so beautifully,” said Maj. S. Maniam, the Indian manager.

Be it the drops or boasts to the corner, Ritwik used the pace on the ball to keep Evans under check, and what is more, force errors. Once Ritwik had done his job, the focus was on Saurav Ghosal.

Ghosal was tentative initially and even dropped the first game on extra points.

But as the heat of the competition grew, came the unexpected twitch in Gough’s left thigh.

He sought medical attention, even time out but the strapped thigh could not stand the rigour.

Having been through intense moments earlier, this came as an anti-climax.

While the Indians celebrated, the Pakistanis looked desolate.

Both Mansoor Zaman and Amir Atlas Khan failed and Netherlands chalked out a great win.

“I do not know what worked in my players’ minds. It was unexpected but a great disappointment,” said Pakistan Coach Fahim Gul and that said it all.

The results (Pre-quarterfinals): India bt Wales 3-0 (Ritwik Bhattacharya bt David Evans 11-6, 11-10 (3-1), 11-7; Saurav Ghosal bt Alex Gough 10-11 (2-4), 11-7, 11-3, concd; Siddarth Suchde bt Jethro Binns 11-8, 7-11, 11-2).

England bt Germany 3-0; Egypt bt Hong Kong 3-0; Canada bt South Africa 2-1; Netherlands bt Pakistan 2-1; Australia bt USA 3-0; France bt New Zealand 3-0, Malaysia bt Ireland 2-1.

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