Who’ll have last laugh?
Defending champion Joshna and second seed Dipika will face off in National squash final today.
The country’s top two women players, defending champion Joshna Chinappa and second seed Dipika Pallikal Karthik, expectedly took their appointed places in the final of the 73rd Senior National Squash Championships in progress here.
The two Chennai-based squash professionals both won their semifinals in straight games at the Otters Club courts in suburban Bandra to enter the summit clash.
Dipika, ranked 19th on the women’s PSA circuit and five years junior to her city rival, has re-entered the scene after her triumphant run in 2011, her only senior National title so far.
Joshna moved Salunkhe around the court and dominated the contest till the end, after an indifferent start.
“Akanksha played really well and she got off to a good start. Some of her shots were very impressive,” said Joshna in praise of her defeated rival.
Dipika also took complete control in the other women’s semi-final against Sachika.
“I am delighted to be back for the nationals,” she said after her comfortable win.
“It’s good to see quite a lot of (women) players who are doing well. With Joshna and me at the top for quite some time, we hope the others take the pressure off us. We try to help them improve their games whenever we get the opportunity,” she added.
THE RESULTS (semi-finals): Women: Joshna Chinappa (TN) bt Akanksha Salunkhe (Goa) 11-6 11-2 11-4; Dipika Pallikal Karthik (TN) bt Sachika Ingale (UP) 11-5 11-111-4.
Men: Harinderpal Singh Sandhu (TN) bt Mahesh Mangaonkar (Mah) 6-1113-116-11 11-8 11-8.
The country’s top two women players, defending champion Joshna Chinappa and second seed Dipika Pallikal Karthik, expectedly took their appointed places in the final of the 73rd Senior National Squash Championships in progress here.
The two Chennai-based squash professionals both won their semifinals in straight games at the Otters Club courts in suburban Bandra to enter the summit clash.
While 12-time champion Joshna, the senior of the two finalists, outclassed Goa’s Akansha Salunkhe 11-6 11-2 11-4, Dipika was equally ruthless while packing off UP rival Sachika Ingale 11-5 11-111-4 in the last four. Twenty-nine-year old Joshna, ranked No. 10 in the world, has been a regular in the Nationals.
Dipika, ranked 19th on the women’s PSA circuit and five years junior to her city rival, has re-entered the scene after her triumphant run in 2011, her only senior National title so far.
Joshna moved Salunkhe around the court and dominated the contest till the end, after an indifferent start.
“Akanksha played really well and she got off to a good start. Some of her shots were very impressive,” said Joshna in praise of her defeated rival.
Dipika also took complete control in the other women’s semi-final against Sachika.
“I am delighted to be back for the nationals,” she said after her comfortable win.
“It’s good to see quite a lot of (women) players who are doing well. With Joshna and me at the top for quite some time, we hope the others take the pressure off us. We try to help them improve their games whenever we get the opportunity,” she added.
THE RESULTS (semi-finals): Women: Joshna Chinappa (TN) bt Akanksha Salunkhe (Goa) 11-6 11-2 11-4; Dipika Pallikal Karthik (TN) bt Sachika Ingale (UP) 11-5 11-111-4.
Men: Harinderpal Singh Sandhu (TN) bt Mahesh Mangaonkar (Mah) 6-1113-116-11 11-8 11-8.
