Evans meets India’s top two
By NEHA JAIN in Mumbai
Tesni Evans achieved one of the biggest wins of her career as she beat India’s celebrity squash star Dipika Pallikal in the Otters International tournament in Mumbai.
Fighting for every point and controlling play for large periods of the match, Evans slugged it out for 64 minutes to reach a semi-final clash with another Indian star, Joshna Chinappa.
Tesni Evans ( WAL) beat Dipika Pallikal (IND) 15-13, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8 (64 minutes)
Dipika was involved in a slugfest for the second day in a row as she and Tesni matched each other fairly evenly throughout the contest.
Tesni looked assured and appeared to be constructing her points well, winning some crucial ones as the game had some traffic problems with both players not clearing the ball well enough.
Dipika fought grittily to level the match and at 8-8 in the third it was plain that the delicate balance was about to shift. With Dipika allowing herself to be more affected with some calls, Tesni hung in to take a useful 2-1 lead.
The momentum was with Tesni as she hurriedly opened up a 5-1 lead in the fourth. It was soon 10-4, when Dipika responded with four consistent points in a row to reach 8-10. That was as far as she could take that comeback as Tesni finished it to take a hard fought and well deserved victory. The crowd was denied an All Indian semi. Joshana plays Tesni in a match that promises much.
Joshna Chinappa ( IND) beat Liu Tsz Ling (HKG) 11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5 ( 31 min)
Joshna Chinappa was the dominant player in her quarter final vs Liu giving her opponent very little width to play with as she took the first 11-7, Liu came back smartly to level the match before Joshana moved it up a gear to take a spot in the semi final against Tesni Evans.
Delia Arnold (MAS) beat Milou Van Der Heijden( NED) 10-12, 11-6, 12-10, 11-5 ( 48 mins )
The third seeded Malaysian earned her spot in the semi with a grinding win against Milou.
It was Milou who continued where she left off last night vs Nicolette who gained the early advantage before Delia restored parity.
Delia led 10-7 as the resilient Dutchwoman took it to extra points. Delia played a solid brace of points to snatch the lead. That surge from Delia apparently took the wind from Milou’s sails as Delia raced to 10-1 before Milou pulled back a few but it wasn’t enough to deny Delia her semi final spot.
Annie Au ( HKG) beat Nadine Shahin ( EGY) 11-7, 11-5, 11-4 ( 28 mins)
Annie had things well under control as she eased into the last four with a clinical performance over Nadine.
Abdulla Al Muzayen (KUW) beat Sanjay Singh Chal ( MAS) 8-11,3-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7
( 52 minutes)
Sanjay stayed ahead of Al Muzayen for two and a half games coming up with a bit more on most rallies as he led 2-0. At 7-7, Muzayen played two beauties and closed out the third. The fourth was a see saw battle which saw Muzayen level the scores. The swing in the momentum was evident. Al Muzayen opened a 4-1 lead. Sanjay wasn’t done and at 7-7 the atmosphere was electric. Al Muzayen was that much more consistent and completed a fine comeback
Robert Downer (ENG) beat Alex Noakes( ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 ( 31 minutes)
Two Englishmen with similar styles of play. Downer displayed greater variety and consistency to take his place in the semi.
Edmon Lopez ( ESP) beat Abhay Singh(IND) 13-11,11-7, 11-6 (48 mins)
The Indian junior fought gamely and played confidently but the Spaniard’s experience shone through in a well contested match.
Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) beat Ravi Dixit (IND) 11-7,9-11, 11-4, 11-6 (43 mins)
There wasn’t much to choose between them for two games before the top seed stamped his authority on the match. Iker plays Downer next.
PSA W35 Otters International JSW ISC 2016, Otters Club, Mumbai, India.
Semi-finals:
[1] Annie Au (HKG) v [3] Delia Arnold (MAS)
[2] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v [6] Tesni Evans (WAL)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Annie Au (HKG) bt [8] Nadine Shahin (EGY) 11-7, 11-5, 11-4 (28m)
[3] Delia Arnold (MAS) bt Milou van der Heijden (NED) 10-12, 11-6, 12-10, 11-5 (48m)
[6] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt [4] Dipika Pallikal Karthik (IND) 15-13, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8 (64m)
[2] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt [7] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) 11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5
1st round:
[1] Annie Au (HKG) bt Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 11-5, 11-8, 13-11 (35m)
[8] Nadine Shahin (EGY) bt [Q] Sachika Ingale (IND) 11-7, 5-11, 11-1, 11-6 (31m)
Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt [5] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 6-11, 13-11, 11-7, 14-12 (55m)
[3] Delia Arnold (MAS) bt [WC] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) 11-2, 11-3, 11-6 (18m)
[4] Dipika Pallikal Karthik (IND) bt [Q] Mayar Hany (EGY) 10-12, 18-16, 13-11, 11-3 (58m)
[6] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt [Q] Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) 11-6, 11-8, 11-3 (35m)
[7] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) bt [Q] Siyoli Waters (RSA) 11-8, 11-4, 14-12 (41m)
[2] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt Nele Gilis (BEL) 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 (43m)
Qualifying finals:
Mayar Hany (EGY) bt Nikita Joshi (IND) 11-3, 11-7, 11-5 (12m)
Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) bt Urwashi Joshi (IND) 11-2, 11-7, 11-7 (29m)
Sachika Ingale (IND) bt Janet Vidhi (IND) 11-4, 11-2, 11-2 (22m)
Siyoli Waters (RSA) bt Sunayna Kuruvilla (IND) 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (25m)
Pictures by NITESH SQUARE courtesy of Indian Squash Circuit