It was three cheers for India in the mixed event of the Chennai Open doubles squash with the third-seeded pair of Saurav Ghosal and Dipika Pallikal defeating the top-seeded Egyptian-Australian combination of Ali Anwar Reda and Rachael Grinham in straight games.
Jonathan Kemp (England) and Stephen Coppinger (South Africa) won the men’s event while there were more happy tidings for England as Jenny Duncalf and her Australian partner Rachael Grinham won the women’s crown.
“It was a fabulous victory for Saurav and Dipika. We are delighted. Both played with great confidence against higher-ranked opponents to score this highly deserving victory,” coach Cyrus Poncha told DNA.
The Indians maintained optimum focus right through the match and never allowed the higher rating of their opponents to rankle their mind. Both games were fought on an almost even keel but the Indians raised the level of their game at crucial moments, especially towards the closing stages.
Saurav and Dipika quelled the challenges of their rivals with better coordination and cohesion. After a tough fight, Saurav and Dipika won the first game at 11-8. Pepped up by this victory, they showed greater coordination in their approach. The execution of shots was also near perfect and the dead drop winners ensured a smooth passage in the second game at 11-4 to clinch the title in 30 minutes.
The men’s and women’s doubles finals were hard fought matches.
Women’s winners Jenny and Rachael should consider themselves a trifle lucky as they were extended to the fullest by the second-seeded Australian pair of Donna Urquhart and Kasey Brown in the 56-minute encounter. Jenny and Rachael prevailed 8-11 11-9 11-8. Kemp and Coppinger had to slug it out for 49 minutes against Harry Leitch and Alan Clyne (Scotland) before winning 5-11 11-6 11-8.
In the third-place match in mixed doubles, Scotland’s Alan Clyne and Frania Gillen defeated Chris Simpson and Jenny Duncalf (England) 11-8, 11-6 in 24 minutes.
Saurav Ghosal and Harinderpal Singh Sandhu finished in third position in a strong men’s field. The Indians defeated Scotland’s Chris Small and Lyall Paterson 11-5 11-10 in 40 minutes.
Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Palikal showed their grit and determination to claim the bronze medal when they came from behind to beat Jaclyn Hawkes (New Zealand) and Samantha Teran (Mexico) 11-7 6-11 11-6 in 38 minutes in women’s doubles.
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