The Hindu : Sport / Squash : Mangaonkar triumphs

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Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009
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Sport - Squash

Mangaonkar triumphs

CHENNAI: Three finalists but only one title. That was the story in the end for the Indians in the British Junior Open squash tournament at Sheffield on Tuesday.

Mahesh Mangaonkar clinched the boys under-15 title beating favourite Oliver Holland of England 11-5, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10. The two who failed at the final hurdle were Dipika Pallikal in the girls under-19 and Kush Kumar in the boys under-13 sections.

Emulating Ghosal

Mahesh, who ensured it was not a totally disappointing finish for the Indians with his determined effort against an opponent who had all the local support, became the second Indian boy, after Saurav Ghosal’s success in the under-19 in 2004, to win a title in the prestigious event.

The win did not come easy but through some high quality display where the Indian excelled in his accurate boasts. Though he dropped a game, Mahesh was by far the steadier of the two opponents, according to reports.

The Indian was sure of his movements and perfect in his strokes as he finished off the fourth game and the match with a grand volley. The whole contest lasted 40 minutes.

For Dipika, a former under-17 champion, it was an opportunity missed. The top seed Low Wee Wern of Malaysia had beaten her when the two had met six months ago. The supremacy continued as she polished off an inform Indian in 42 minutes at 11-2, 11-8, 8-11 11-8.

Not much different was the fate of Kush Kumar, who was riding high after his recent success in the Scottish Open. Egypt’s Amr Aboul Souad, who was a taller and sturdier opponent, won 11-7, 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7.

The results:

Girls: Under-19: Final: Low Wee Wern (Mas) bt Dipika Palikal (Ind) 11-2, 11-8, 8-11 11-8. Semifinals: Dipika bt Heba El Torky (Egy) 11-9, 14-12, 9-11, 14-12.

Boys: Under-13: Final: Amr Aboul Souad (Egy) bt Kush Kumar (Ind) 11-7, 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7. Semifinals: Kush Kumar bt Omar El Atlas (Egy) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7.