Indian duo thump compatriots to endorse their number one seedings
By MICHAEL CATLING – Squash Mad Reporter
WORLD number 15 Saurav Ghosal and Indian number two Joshna Chinappa retained their respective titles at the 38th edition of the Bombay Gymkhana-HSBC Maharashtra State Open Senior Squash Championship, with resounding victories in Mumbai.
Ghosal, who made history by becoming the first Indian to reach the quarter-finals of the World Championships last month, outclassed world number 80 and second seed Harinder Pal Sandhu to win 11-4 11-6 11-5.
“I played clinically and Harry must be pretty disappointed that he made quite a few errors. But it was tough for both of us at the end of a tiring season,” said the 27-year-old from Kolkata.
In the women’s section, world number 26 Chinappa thrashed Aishwarya Bhattacharya 11-1 11-1 11-3 in just 20 minutes.
Bhattacharya upset second-seed and 2012 runner-up Urwashi Joshia in the semi-finals, but she was no match for the 11-time Indian Nationals champion who won her second trophy in her homeland this year.
The 27-year-old and Ghosal will return to action at the Tournament of Champions next month, with world number ones Ramy Ashour and Nicol David both set to feature.
Happy to have defended my title at the Maharashtra State Open last night with a win over @sandhu_harinder in an entertaining final 🙂
— Saurav Ghosal (@SauravGhosal) December 22, 2013
Men’s Final Result:
Saurav Ghosal 3-0 Harinder pal Singh Sandhu 11-4 11-6 11-5 (40m)
Women’s Final Result:
Joshna Chinappa 3-0Â Aishwarya Bhattacharya 11-1, 11-1, 11-3 (20m)
Men’s Semi-Final Results:
Saurav Ghosal 3-1 Aditya Jagtap 11-5, 11-6, 11-13, 11-4
Harinderpal Singh Sandhu 3-0 Ravi Dixit 11-6, 12-10, 13-11
Women’s Semi-Final Results:
Aishwarya Bhattacharya 3-1 Urvashi Joshi 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9
Joshna Chinappa 3-0 Nikita Joshi 11-9, 11-5, 11-6.
Picture by Steve Cubbins (SquashSite)