The Hindu : Sport / Squash : Joshna clinches title in Kuala Lumpur

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Joshna clinches title in Kuala Lumpur

Joshna Chinappa

CHENNAI: National squash champion Joshna Chinappa won the $8000 NSC super satellite No. 4, a WISPA event, in Kuala Lumpur on Friday to make it back-to-back title wins after having annexed the earlier one at the same venue a week ago.

Having made history then by becoming the first Indian woman to grab a WISPA title, she has now gone one better.

In what turned out to be a repeat final, Joshna defeated the Malaysian girl Low Wee Wern in straight games 11-7, 11-8, 11-6, the whole match ending inside half an hour at the national squash centre.

Speaking to The Hindu from Kuala Lumpur, Joshna said, “I was calm and relaxed in the final. The crowd was naturally supporting Wern but that did not unsettle me.”

Late start

The Indian did start late, not until Wern was 7-2 up and seemingly looking good to grab the first game. “But I tightened my game, the returns found the angle and drops went well. I was able to catch up and yes, winning the game did not prove a problem,” said the confident champion, who is in the fold of the Mittal Champion Trust.

Once having taken the lead Joshna was able to keep the tempo going though points went neck and neck initially in the next two games.

Overall though, as she put it, “I did not feel any pressure. Having played Wern earlier, I was confident. This is our second meeting,” she said.

Improved fitness

“I feel my fitness has improved a lot,” Joshna summed up her recent performances and for this, she said, “I owe it to Malcolm Willstrop for his coaching, my training in the ICL academy in Chennai and of course the encouragement from my sponsors Nike and Mittal Trust,” she said.

“My next assignment is the World doubles in Chennai next month. I plan to take a few days rest on return and get back to serious training again,” she said.

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