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 17-Dec,
FINALS:
Australians rule in Chennai
ESWAR RAMACHANDRAN
reports from Chennai ...
Defending champions Australia proved their superiority in great
measure to beat the fighting Indian pair of Ritwik Bhattacharya and
Saurav Ghosal 3-1 in the Men’s doubles final, and to clinch all the
three titles in the Second Chennai Open World doubles championship
that ended here tonight.
The Aussie duo of Byron Davis
and Cameron White, who scalped better rated pakistani players
mansoor Zaman and Shahid Zaman in the league stage and then
accounted for Hong Kong’s Roger Ngan and Wong Wai Hang in the
quarterfinals, played to their game plan and put an end to the
winning streak of the Indian pair at 9-4 9-3 8-9 9-7 in 100 minutes,
the longest match in the championship.
The women's doubles was won by the Grinham sisters, Rachael and
Natalie, when they defeated New Zealand's Louise Crome and Lara Petera 9-7, 9-4, 9-2 in 29 minutes, and Rachel Grinham and David
Palmer defeated Shelley Kitchen and Glen wilson 11-8 9-8
9-8 in 45 minutes in the mixed doubles final.
Indian Progress Halted
It was a creditable show by the Australians, who had upset the top
seeded pair and their compatriots David Palmer and Anthony ricketts
in the semi finals yesterday and the win should enhance the
confidence of White, who had made his re-entry to the professional
circuit after retirement. This was the first major tournament that
White had competed after coming back (from retirement).
In as much as it should also be said that the Australian victory was
possible to a great extent because White, who was supposed to be
the weak link, recovered in stature during the game and in fact came
up with many winners.
The Aussies’ decision to regroup to positions well in time mainly
during the second and fourth games and also to denying any leeway
for the Indians quite often during rallies helped them to gain
superiority over the Indians. However, the Indians playing together
for the first time and reaching the title clash of a world
championship itself proves a bright future for the pair.
On the other hand, the Indians were never allowed to go full throttle and
total attack, especially by White in the first game and Davis in the
fourth game. The hosts were merely floating and Bhattacharya failed
badly whenever he played upfront.
Apart from this, Ghosal was immobilised almost throughout the match
as it seemed to be a challenge between the giant Davis and dwarf
Ghosal. Davis was always in front of Ghosal and the latter was
forced to run around the towering Australian for returns.
But in the third game, Ghosal was able to wriggle out of such
situations and thus the Indians could coordinate better in winning
the game.
As for the strength of the players, most often Bhattacharya stood
out amongst the four players as he came up with a few superb cross
court shots and nicks and rarely missed scoring points from them.
If White was the mainstay in displaying an array of both backhand
and forehand returns and was tactical in his approach, Davis used
his power to perfection and scored winners at vital times. Both
White and Davis on at least two occasions left both Ghosal and
Bhattacharya stranded and failing to retrieve.
The Australians led 4-2 before winning the first game and then rose
to a 6-2 lead in the second for a 2-0 lead. In the third the Indians
led 7-4.
But Bhattacharya and Ghosal in turn hit the tin and the Australians
cashed in on their opportunity to level the score at 8-all and
seeking one set to win, the Indians clinched the game.
However in the fourth game, the Australians ran up a 7-4 lead but
had some hiccups before winning the game (9-7) and the match.
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Linda's View
 Linda
Davie was struck down by ... well, something
nasty ... and watched the final live on TV from the hotel
... But the SMS was working fine ...
Big crowds turned out for the final, much bigger than in
previous rounds. This was the first time any Indians had
appeared in an international squash final, and the support
was there.
Too many unforced errors from the Indian pair gave the
Aussies a good start, 9/4, 9/3.
But the Indians changed tactics in the third, started
attacking Cameron more, and it paid dividends. 3-2 up,
Cameron dives ... no let. 5-3. At 5-4 the ball bursts. This
is taking an age, long rallies ...
From 7-4 up Ritwik lets it slip to 8-all. Set one, India
presents Australia with a matchball ... but no, game three,
in 32 minutes, to India.
Ritwik produces another great drop to start the fourth, but
quickly it's 1-4, 2-4, 2-6, 3-6 ... the Aussies are in
control.
"All over" said one commentator. No. 4-7, 5-7 ... long
rallies ... 5-8, match ball again to the Aussies.
One saved. 6-8. Two saved, 7-8, the crowd shout their
encouragement ... loudly!
But the youngster makes a mistake and it's all over.
Well played Australia. They came for three golds, were
seeded for three golds, and they got them.
But it's a great day for Indian squash, and it's announced
that the 2007 World Team Championships will be held here.
I'll be back ...
Linda
Davie |
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16-Dec, SEMI-FINALS:
Indians Make History
ESWAR RAMACHANDRAN
reports from Chennai ...
India’s Ritwik Bhattacharya and Saurav Ghosal made
history by taking the country to its maiden entry to a World Squash
Championship.
Riding on their success story, the Indian pair lived up to the
expectations to progress to the title clash with a hard fought 3-1
win over American duo of Jamie Crombie and Preston Quick in the
first semi final of the Second Chennai Open world doubles Men’s
championship here at the India Cements Academy complex tonight.
Bhattacharya and Ghosal dished out champion stuff and exerted every
sinew to score a marvellous victory in 65 minutes at 9-5, 10-11,
11-9, 9-4.
Stirring Stuff in Chennai
The Bhattacharya-Ghosal match seemed to be heading for an easy run
for the Indians but their inadequacy in arresting the fighting
Americans in the second game from a lead of 5-2 to level the score
at 8-all cost them the game.
However, both Bhattacharya and Ghosal should be complimented for
their noteworthy performance. Each of them displayed an array of
shots and the use of the wrist for placements after waiting like
hawks for winners that gained applause from spectators.
And, for yet another time, Bhattacharya excelled with his nick
shots, while Ghosal exhibited skills to move in front from back
court to score points on drive-ins, quite often.
In fact, Bhattacharya served for the second game (8-7) and the
rivals were involved in one of the longest rallies witnessed in the
match. To everyone’s chagrin, Ghosal muffed with an easy return from
the back-court to help the Americans not only to save a game point
but allowed them to level the game score too.
From then on, the Americans seemed to be raising their game. South
paw Crombie, who looked to be wanting in the first two games, came
up with few superb winners, though the Indians matched point for
point.
Once again Bhattacharya served for the game after Quick contacted
the tin but Ghosal erred badly. With the score at 10-9, Ghosal
served and a series of rallies developed. Here, Ghosal drove in
powerfully with his low backhand and the ball returned from the
glass wall in between Bhattacharya and Quick. It was a sheer
mis-judgement by Quick to go for the ball to his right and the ball
passed him on his left. This was enough for the Indians to win the
third game.
The Americans literally threw-in the towel in the fourth game after
the Indian duo rose to a 5-0 lead before clinching the issue beyond
doubt with a well-earned 9-4 win.
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"This has to be the happiest moment for
one and all in squash in India."
N. Ramachandran, secretary-general, SRFI
"It was an unimaginable success"
Maj (retd) S. Maniam
"Unbelievable."
National coach, Cyrus Poncha
Women's & Mixed
The Women's final will be between Natalie Grinham and Rachael
Grinham (Aus) versus Louise Crome and Lara Petera of New Zealand,
while Rachael Grinham and David Palmer play Shelley Kitchen and Glen
Wilson of New zealand in the Mixed doubles final tomorrow.
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15-Dec,
Day THREE:
Indians on Winning Streak
ESWAR RAMACHANDRAN
reports from Chennai ...
The top rung Indian pair of
Ritwik Bhattacharya and Saurav Ghosal continued their winning
streak today to storm into the semi finals of the Second World
Chennai Open Doubles Championship now in progress here at the India
Cements Academy complex.
Indians
progressing to the last four stages of such a high voltage
tournament by itself would be heartwarming for the followers of the
game at home. However, Bhattacharya and Ghosal, despite change in
attitude to play second fiddle to their rivals in the third and
fourth games, managed to win over Den Jenson and Cameron Pilley of
Australia 9-3, 11-8, 4-9, 8-9, 9-6.
The Indian pair will now meet the hard hitting American duo of
Jamie Crombie and Preston Quick, who defeated the Zaman brothers
- Mansoor and shahid - of Pakistan 8-9, 11-10, 9-7, 9-6 in 57
minutes.
Top Aussies on form
With the competition amongst the teams getting stiffer and the also
rans having been edged out at the end of the round robin league
matches yesterday, top seeds, David Palmer and Anthony Ricketts
played like true champions and were businesslike in their approach,
indicating their intentions to have the title under their belts.
Incidentally, the Australians are here top seeds for all the three
titles (Men, Women and Mixed Doubles) at stake.
In their quarterfinal match on the centre court against Safeerullah
Khan and Farrukh Zaman of Pakistan, the Australians’ victory was
never in doubt as they led in all the three games before marching to
the semi finals with a clear cut 3-0 win. Palmer and Ricketts won
9-3, 9-7, 9-7 in just 25 minutes.
Palmer and Ricketts would have had plans to play their compatriots
Byron Davis and Cameron White in the finals. But, the draw of
lots yesterday decided otherwise as they are forced to clash in the
semi final. And of course, Palmer and Ricketts will rue this
situation.
Davis and White defeated Wai Hang Wong and Roger Ngan 9-5, 9-6, 9-5
in 44 minutes in their quarterfinal tie. This also made sure that
one of this Australian pair would play either the Americans or the
Indians in the title clash on Friday.
Indians battle against nerves
Coming to the India-America tie, the seeding never mattered in such
high level championships but the rivals ranked 5 to 8 fought it out
till the last point was achieved.
Of course, the Indian pair were a bundle of nerves and frittered
away a golden opportunity to score a straight forward 3-0 win and
then lost the fourth game with their rivals saving two match points.
Here, the Indians buckled under pressure and allowed the Aussies to
earn two points to level the score at 8-all and then seeking for
‘one-set’ gave away the fourth game.
The decider too evoked great response from the rivals and though the
spare home supporters egged on their stars, the Australians never
relented in their attacking game until the teams were six all. On
the other hand, the Indians’ anxiety to make sure of their maiden
entry to the semifinals, the pair tightened their grips in the
decider and closed out after leading 8-6.
In all, both Bhattacharya and Ghosal, arch rivals in singles play in
domestic championships, coordinated well and worked like well oiled
machines. Bhattacharya was excellent and came up with superb nicks
quite often, while Ghosal, who generally refuses to deviate from
power packed shots, displayed greater control in his returns.
To sum up the whole match that lasted for a breathtaking 71 minutes,
the Indians exhibited their prowess in great measure and their
mixing aggression and slowing down the pace when needed was cynosure
of all eyes. In this, Bhattacharya stood out and used his experience
well whenever the chips were down.
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Mixed Doubles
pair falter
The Indian challenge in the Mixed Doubles came to end with Saurav
Ghosal and Joshna Chinnapa, the British Junior Open champions,
failing to resist the onslaught of the duo from Down Under. Here
again, inexperience of the Indian pair to score crunch points spelt
the doom for them. It is not that Dianne Desira and Cameron White
played total squash, but the Indians were unable to match them on
the day.
The fact that the Aussies had to sweat it out and bring their best
resources right from the first game goes to prove the strength of
the Indian challenge. It was more a matter of which team committed
unforced errors, since the forced errors were at premium.
Ghosal and Joshna were trailing 2-5 in the first game but matched
their rivals and their controlled forays and positive play and their
attacking Dianne Desira, the weak link, most often helped the
Indians win the first game at 11-10.
In the second game too, the Australians rose to a 7-2 lead only to
witness their rivals bridging the gap and also go a step further to
lead at 8-7. Here Ghosal committed two errors hitting the tin and
this helped the visitors to come on level terms.
The third and fourth games too were won by the Australian mix, but
not before silencing the Indians, who were matching them point for
point.
In all counts, it was White’s error free game and his intelligent
drops and variety of both forehand and backhand returns helped
Australia march to the semi finals.
The semi final line up for Mixed doubles will be : Rachael Grinham &
David Palmer vs Dianne Desira & Cameron White and Natalie Grinham &
Dan Jenson vs Shelley Kitchen & Glen Wilson, which also goes to
prove that the Australians may be heading towards their goal of
wrapping up all the three titles. |
14-Dec, Day TWO:
Cheers To India
ESWAR RAMACHANDRAN reports from Chennai ...
Recently crowned national champion pair
of Ritwik Bhattacharya and Saurav Ghosal brought
cheers to India when they progressed to the last eight stages of the
men’s doubles of the Second World Doubles championship now in
progress here.
Home
Joy in Group A
As for today’s Indian performance, playing their second match in
Group-A, Bhattacharya and Ghosal exhibited total cohesion in their
approach right from the beginning of the match before notching up a
straight three-games win over the South African duo of Paul Atkinson
and Michael Tootil at 9-5 9-3 9-5.
However, the remaining four Indian pairs bit the dust and will be
playing for placing matches for places from 9 to 16.
There was more to their togetherness on court for the Indians as
Bhattacharya was in his elements to go top gear with his elegant
drops and retrievals while Ghosal applied extra pressure on the
South Africans in breaking the rallies with alacrity which displayed
his eagerness to close for winners.
Though the Indians were cautious in their approach to study the
strong and weak points of their rivals in the first game, both
Bhattacharya and Ghosal were confidence personified in the next two
games to wrap up the match in 36 minutes. If they show the same
mettle in the future matches, Bhattacharya and Ghosal could make a
match of their rivals tomorrow in the quarterfinals.
Later in the evening, the Indian pair expectedly lost to Palmer and
Ricketts at 9-6, 9-4, 9-4 in 21 minutes to record two wins and a loss in
the four team group. The Australians remained the lone team to have
maintained a clean slate.
As for the other men’s doubles matches, the second seeded pair of
Malaysia of Modh Azlan Iskandar and Ong Beng Hee failed to break ice
for the second day running as they were beaten today by Hong Kong
duo of Wai Hang Wong and Roger Ngan 7-9, 9-5, 9-3, 9-6 in 49 minutes
in a Group-B encounter.
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The
Qualifiers
Besides Palmer/ Ricketts and Bhattacharya/Ghosal (Group –A),
Jamie Crombie/Preston Quick (USA) and Roger Ngan/Wong Wai
Hang (HKG) from Group B, Pakistanis Mansoor Zaman/Shahid
Zaman and Australians Byron Davis/Cameron White from
Group-C and Safeerullah Khan/Faroukh Khan (Pak) and Dan
Jenson/Cameron Pilley (Aus) from Group-D were the eight
qualifiers for the quarterfinals.
As for the women’s doubles, the Australian pair of Grinham sisters –
Natalie and Rachael – remained the lone team like their men
compatriots to have won all their three matches to lead Group-A,
followed by New Zealand’s Shelley Kitchen and Tamsyn Leevey,
with two wins.
In Group-B, Lousie Crome and Lara Petera (New
Zealand) and Malaysian duo of Tricia Chuah and Nicol David
qualified for the semi finals.
In the semi finals to be played on Thursday, the Grinham sisters
take on the Malaysians, while Crome and Petera play Kitchen and
Leevey. |
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