RESULTS: PSA Indian Squash Challenger No3, Chennai, India
1st round:
[1] Dylan Bennett (NED) bt Naresh Kumar (IND) 11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 (45m)
[5] Ahmed Hawas (EGY) bt [Q] Naveen Jangra (IND) 13-11, 11-0, 11-7 (24m)
[4] Siddharth Suchde (IND) bt [Q] Vikas Jangra (IND) 11-0, 11-5, 11-8 (21m)
[6] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [Q] Sandeep Jangra (IND) 11-9, 11-6, 13-15, 11-9 (56m)
[7] Anson Kwong (HKG) bt Ravi Dixit (IND) 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 (30m)
Leo Au (HKG) bt [3] James Snell (ENG) 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10 (70m)
[8] Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) bt Gaurav Nandrajog (IND) 12-10, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 (54m)
[2] Mazen Gamal (EGY) bt [Q] Maekawa Kosuke (JPN) 11-0, 11-5, 11-0 (20m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Dylan Bennett (NED) bt [5] Ahmed Hawas (EGY) 11-3, 11-5, 15-13 (32m)
[4] Siddharth Suchde (IND) bt [6] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-2, 11-5, 11-9 (37m)
[7] Anson Kwong (HKG) bt Leo Au (HKG) 12-10, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8 (45m)
[8] Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) bt [2] Mazen Gamal (EGY) 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 (47m)
Semi-finals:
[4] Siddharth Suchde (IND) bt [1] Dylan Bennett (NED) 11-8, 11-3 ret. (20m)
[8] Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) bt [7] Anson Kwong (HKG) 8-11, 11-7, 12-10, 12-10 (45m)
Final:
[8] Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) bt [4] Siddharth Suchde (IND) 11-13, 10-12, 11-8, 14-12, 11-5 (111m)
Women's WISPA Indian Challenger No1
1st round:
[1] Irina Assal (RUS) bye
[7] Aparajitha Balamurukan (IND) bt Saumya Karki (IND) w/o
[4] Surbhi Misra (IND) bye
Harita Omprakash (IND) bt [8] Ankita Sharma (IND) 14-12, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4
[5] Anwesha Reddy (IND) bt Shria Khatri (IND) 11-4, 11-9, 11-3
[3] Carmen Lee (HKG) bye
[6] Anaka Alankamony (IND) bye
[2] Pushppa Devi (MAS) bye
Quarter-finals:
[7] Aparajitha Balamurukan (IND) bt [1] Irina Assal (RUS) 11-3, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9
[4] Surbhi Misra (IND) bt Harita Omprakash (IND) 11-7, 12-10, 6-11, 12-10
[5] Anwesha Reddy (IND) bt [3] Carmen Lee (HKG) 11-5, 12-14, 11-9, 11-3
[6] Anaka Alankamony (IND) bt [2] Pushppa Devi (MAS) 11-9, 11-6, 14-12
Semi-finals:
[4] Surbhi Misra (IND) bt [7] Aparajitha Balamurukan (IND) 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-3
[6] Anaka Alankamony (IND) bt [5] Anwesha Reddy (IND) 11-7, 11-8, 11-7
Final:
[6] Anaka Alankamony (IND) bt [4] Surbhi Misra (IND) 11-8, 11-8, 12-10 (29m)
Harinder Pal Sandhu and Anaka Alankamony won the PSA Indian Challenger No3 and WISPA Indian Challenger No1 titles, respectively, in the Indian Challenger squash series at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai.
The championships were supported by the Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports - and for the first time in Indian squash history, there was an all-Indian line-up in both finals.
The climax of the men's $6,000 PSA World Tour Super Satellite event between Harinder Pal Sandhu and Siddharth Suchde was a tense affair, with three of the five games going to tie-breaks.
Eighth seed Sandhu was the deserving winner, coming from two games down to beat Suchde, the No4 seed, 11-13, 10-12, 11-8, 14-12, 11-5 in a marathon 111 minutes.
The climax of the $4000 WISPA World Tour event saw Anaka Alankamony defeat Surbhi Misra to become the youngest winner on the WISPA Tour. The 15-year-old from Chennai was playing in her first tournament as a WISPA member.
The youngster's exceptional skill, speed and control over her 19-year-old opponent led Alankamony to an 11-8, 11-8, 12-10 victory in 29 minutes.
"I wish to thank the federation, my coaches, my family and sponsors for all their support," said the delighted Alankamony, a home grown girl and a trainee of the Indian Squash Academy.
Srivatsan Subramanian, Secretary General of the Squash Rackets Federation of India, added: "An excellent achievement for Indian squash - I wish to congratulate all the Indians for a great showing. This tournament would not have been possible without the support from the Union Ministry, for whom we are very grateful."