Ravi bags Penang crown

A memorable Malaysian holiday it turned out for Solomon Ravi. The 10-year-old Chennai lad bagged the boys’ under-11 crown in the Penang International Junior Squash Open and last week he reached the semifinals of the Kuala Lumpur Junior Open.

In Monday’s final, the sixth Standard student of Arunjyothi school, dispatched compatriot Robin Mann 11-2 13-11 11-4. Mann who hails from Delhi gave a plucky fight in the second game, but Ravi wrested the initiative in the third as he went on to prevail with solid strokeplay.

“I am delighted as this is my first triumph on foreign soil. I had won the boys under-11 title at the Junior Nationals in Chennai last year,’’ said the elated winner.

India ended up taking the first three places in the boys’ under-11 section as Akshay Singh downed Haikal Arman of Malaysia 9-11 12-10 11-6 11-4 to clinch third spot.
However, there was also some disappointment in store for the Indian contingent on the concluding day. Sandeep Ramachandran lost his 3rd-4th playoff match to Malaysian Ryan Pasqual 6-11 4-11 8-11, while in the girls’ under-11 Rayna Kishinchandani failed to finish third losing 8-11 1-11 7-11 to The Min En of Malaysia.

The locals had plenty to cheer about as their very own Asian junior girls champion Low Wee Wern claimed the girls under-19 title with a commanding 11-8 11-8 11-9 victory over countrymate Low Wee Nee.