Joshna Chinappa will lead India's charge in the $10,000 Chennai Open squash, a WISPA event to be held at the Indian Squash Academy here from May 24 to 26. Prior to the main draw matches, qualifying rounds will be gone through on May 22 and 23.
Even though participants from Malaysia, Australia, Egypt and England aside from India will be seen in action, overall this is a tournament that will not have ‘big names' of the sport.
India's highest ranked Dipika Pallilkal, ranked 14, will not be there. The highest ranked player is Siti Munirah Jusoh of Malaysia, placed 40 in the WISPA list and she takes the pride of place in the seedings.
Even though Joshna (on 71) takes the second seed slot, she will start the favourite for the title.
Briefing newsmen on Friday, Srivatsan Subramaniam, General Secretary, TNSRA said that “the event will a good ground for several up and coming players from India.” Seven players from the qualifying phase will join the 13 direct-entry players in the main draw.
Earlier the TNSRA chose the occasion to go through with the felicitation of the Indian women's team which won the Asian title in the recently held in Kuwait.
In the absence of key players Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa, the focus was on the other two — Anaka Alankamony and Aparajitha Balamurukan. Both these players received their cheques for Rs. 50,000 each.
The men's team had won the silver and only Harinder Pal Sandhu was present to receive the Rs. 25000 prize money. Also to be felicitated was B. Balamurugan who was adjudged the junior coach of the year by the ASF.
