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15-Aug-06:
Mandy Came, Saw, Conquered
Pradeep Vijayakar on `Aunty' Mandy who was the talking point of
the Otters Open
Mandy Kennedy's surprise triumph in the Otter Open women's
championships brought memories of people who came saw and conquered.
Mandy's husband Simon is an Oxford rower who has taken part in the
Henley Regatta. When he saw a news report in the papers about a squash
tournament at The Leela hotel at Sahar he went to check out if his
wife Mandy could play. The Leela Squash Classic, a handicap team
event, was on. She couldn't as she was not part of any clubs team
taking part. The players informed Simon about the Otters Open
which was approaching and Mandy entered, having
to qualify.
Qualify she did and taking the girls one by one devoured them all to
be richer by Rs 25,000. Mandy was lucky that the top four women
including the sensational Joshna Chinappa who has entered the top 50
of WISPA, were not there as they were off to the South Asian
Federation Games in Colombo.
Mandy was at least 20 years older than most of them. Alisha
Mashruwalla, who Mandy beat in the final, was 17 and Mandy 38.
So what did Mandy feel about her triumph? "I did my best in each match
and won. I had a five setter in the semis, if the final had gone that
long I would have struggled.''
Asked about her final with Alisha, who is on holiday from US where she
schooling in the final grade at Taft Connecticut, Mandy said: "She has
a strong forehand. It was a battle of crosscourts, she trying to pin
me to the forehand and I trying to keep her in the backhand corner.''
Mandy is not the first 'non-local' to win a national title in India.
Filipino Perla Monopal had entered the National Women's
championship in the 90s and won. In the 60s, Ali Ispahani,
living in London, landed in Bombay en route to Madras to visit his
parents. There was a National Championship on. Ali entered and won the
title.
Mandy revealed she had not played for nearly two months. "I had to
spend one and a half months packing for leaving for India.''
Asked about her squash background in the U.K., Mandy said; "I played
for the Warwickshire county men's team in the first division. I played
at No 2 for the women's team which played in division two.'' She
hasn't played at the national level in individual events, but has
represented England in the Masters Home Internationals.
Mandy feels women's squash in the U.K. is nowhere as strong as in the
80s.
"The girls and women here play real strong, there is a good future for
the sport here.''
That augurs well for her kids, whose game could get fast-tracked
during their stay in Mumbai--at least a year. The son entered the
under-11 event.
"Bleary-eyed after arriving in the wee hours, he was pushed on court
and hit a few good shots,'' said dad Simon, who is working as a
consultant for Reliance Retail.
Mandy gets her prize from Aamir Khan,
popular film star of `Lagaan' fame. |
Women's Open Final:
Mandy Kennedy (England) bt Alisha Mashruwala (Mah)
9-5, 9-0, 9-7. |
Mandy makes it all the way
Mandy Kennedy of England made the tournament her own when she bagged the
women's crown following another shock 9-5, 9-0, 9-7 victory over second
seed Alisha Mashruwalla of Maharashtra in the Otters Open, which was
concurrently held with the PSA Open.
Making her debut in the competition at 38, Mandy, who surprised top seed
Surbhi Misra of Rajasthan in the quarter-finals and No. 5 Harita Omprakash
in the semi-finals, completed her giant-killing spree to help herself to
the winner's purse of Rs. 20,000 (approx $426), watched by her husband
Simon, and kids Ben and Megan.
"I didn't know what to expect. I
don't really play tournaments, so this was nerve-wracking.
"I beat the No. 1 and No. 5 seeds the other day and Alisha is No. 2.
So I am very happy. I played well in patches. My serve was more
effective and my drop shots were better."
Mandy Kennedy |
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