The Hindu : Sport / Squash : Joshna concedes semifinal

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Joshna concedes semifinal

S.R. Suryanarayan

SQUASH / Finds centrecourt too slippery

KUWAIT: There was shock and dismay for India after Joshna Chinappa, the lone Indian survivor gave up her singles semifinal midway against Rebecca Chiu of Hong Kong complaining of a ‘slippery court’ in the Asian senior squash championship here on Saturday.

The Indian had indicated her discomfiture even as the match began on the centrecourt, which has been the subject of much debate since the championship began. Seeing her go through the motions, without venturing much into the forecourt came as a surprise.

Rebecca had looked less in trouble but then she had little to do except place the delicate drops correctly, for Joshna would not go to the front.

After losing the first game at love, Joshna told Maj. S. Maniam, the Consultant coach and the Technical Director here that “it was impossible to play.”

But she continued and at 2-7 in the second game, she told the referee that she was not in a position to continue and shook hands with Rebecca and all was over leaving the audience stunned.

In tears later, Joshna said, “I found it too slippery. Even though my confidence is high, I cannot play when I cannot give 100 per cent.”

Rebecca admitted the court was slippery, but “Joshna’s move was a surprise”.

Nonetheless, Joshna’s sacrifice has assured one thing: there will be no more matches on this court in this championship, Maj. Maniam said after discussions with the local organisers. He felt that the match referee should have referred Joshna’s complaint to the tournament referee.

Indians bow out

Late on Friday evening, India’s best hope on the men’s side, third-seeded Saurav Ghosal fell to the brilliance of Kuwaiti Abdullah Kh. Al-Mezayen in four games in the quarterfinals.

Ghosal started off confidently, his trademark speed and agility stood him well as did his drops and drives. The wristy drives from close to the tin brought him several points as the Kuwaiti, seeded 9/16, was often caught on the wrong foot.

But as the contest wore on the left-handed Mezayen brought out his touch game.

Matching his rival’s speed, the Kuwaiti produced some brilliant forehands that stunned the Indian. The soft-hand placements brought instant cheers even as it piled up pressure in Ghosal who looked in despair and slowly his resolve seemed to slip off.

Mezayen had earlier accounted for fifth-seeded Pakistani Yasir Butt.

All at sea

In comparison India’s other hope Sidddarth Suchde was all at sea against second-seeded Malaysian Ong Beng Hee initially. So much so that the Indian even once earned a conduct code warning for racket abuse after he threw it in desperation. But it spoke of Suchde’s resolve that despite being two games down, he fought back to grab one before crumbling.

The results:

Women: Semifinals: Nicol David (Mas) bt Christina Mak (HK) 9-0, 9-2, 9-0; Rebecca Chiu (HK) bt Joshna Chinappa (Ind) 9-0, 7-2 concd.

Men: quarterfinals: Mohd. Azlan Iskandar (Mas) bt Majid Khan (Pak) 9-0, 9-0, 9-1; Shahid Zaman (Pak) bt Bilal Zaman (Pak) 10-8, 9-3, 9-6; Abdullah Kh. Al-Mezayen (Kuw) bt Saurav Ghosal (Ind) 8-10, 9-4, 9-1, 9-3; Ong Beg Hee (Mas) bt Siddharth Suchde (Ind) 9-2, 9-3, 8-10, 9-2.

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