January squash rankings

PSA:
41 Ritwik Bhattacharya
51 Saurav Ghosal
190 Siddharth Suchde
195 Gaurav Nandrajog
217 Harinder Pal Sandhu, Parthiban Ayappan
265 Naresh Kumar
321 Supreet Singh

WISPA:
41 Joshna Chinappa
132 Anwesha Reddy, Dipika Pallikal, Surbhi Misra

Mahesh Mangaokar, Ravi Dixit win Scottish Squash Jr Open

Ravi Dixit had another 80-odd minute battle before he could claim his maiden European title here in Edinburgh at the Heriot–Watt University Squash Centre. Ravi played flawless squash against Malaysia’s Cheong Kah Wah in the first two games to win both comfortably. The third was a much closer affair with both players hitting very tight length and picking up all shots exceedingly well. Ravi served for the match twice at 8-6 but was unable to convert as Wah took it 10-8.
The Malaysian came out strong in the fourth, hitting some brilliant winners and rushed to an 8-1 lead in a single hand. Ravi managed to claw six points back with some effective short kills but ultimately lost the game. The fifth was a very close tussle with both players going neck and neck, Ravi seemed to be fitter but Wah ran down everything. At 6-6, Ravi hit a back hand drop into the nick and a forehand drive clinger on the next rally to earn another match point, 8-6.  Wah came back with an amazing volley nick, but Ravi managed to pull it back again and won it this time with a forehand drive the Malaysian couldn’t return.
This maiden international victory was very special for National Champion Ravi, who shifted his base from Dhampur to the ICL Squash Academy in Chennai a year ago. “I have trained so hard to win an international event and I have done it!!’ He thanked the SRFI, his coaches at the ICL Academy and the Delhi Squash Association for all their support and effort and though exhausted, promised to give it his best at the British Junior starting on 2nd January.
There was more joy for the Indian contingent  as top seeded Mahesh Mangaonkar lifted the Boys U13 crown. Mahesh used all his experience to win the first game from 7-5 down. 11 year old American Dylan Murray ran for every ball, putting a lot of pressure of Mahesh, and played his heart out in the third, forcing Mahesh to make many unforced errors. Another close game in the fourth but Mahesh stepped on the pace and won it 9-7 to claim his sixth international junior title.

Saumya Karki was unable to make it a hat trick for the Indians, her Egyptian opponent Manat Allah Naser was very consistent and played well to defeat Saumya in straight games. Aparajitha Balamurukan defeated Sachika Balvani in straight games to win the all-Indian Girls U13 3rd/4th playoff.

Ravi, Mahesh & Saumya in Scottish Final

Ravi Dixit playing his first European event reached ,the finals at the Scottish Junior Open played at the Heriot – Watt University in Edinburgh in a dramatic 5-game tussle. Down two games he came up trumps by sheer grit in his match against Mexico’s Milles Zarazua R which lasted well over an hour. Ravi played some outstanding drops throughout the match which were retrieved by his opponent, but Ravi proved the fitter and won the deciding game. Earlier in the day Ravi defeated Allaa Radwan of Egypt 10-9, 9-1, 9-1 in 25 minutes.
Top seeded Mahesh charged into the final of the Boys U13. In his semi final encounter he defeated Joshua Sekhar of Canada 9-3, 9-2, 10-8 in 30 minutes. Having reached the finals two years ago in the under 11 category Mahesh will play Dylan Murray of the USA, which will certainly be a close encounter
Saumya Karki defeated country mate Aparajitha Balamurukan to enter the Girls U13 final.

Hindu: SRFI honours squash coaches

The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) awarded National-level coaches for their outstanding contribution for the development of the sport in India in 2006. Maj. Maniam, Consultant Coach, SRFI, said “such a gathering of coaches from around the country enriches the knowledge of the participants towards a scientific and systematic approach to coaching.”

N. Ramachandran presented the awards to the following coaches at the ICL Squash Academy here on the sidelines of the three-day SRFI Coaching Conference: Hari Om Tripathi, B. Balamurugan, Sunil Verma, Dalip Tripathi, Gajendra Singh Rathore, Dhiraj Singh, Manan Mashruwala. The outstanding contribution award to refereeing in India in 2006 went to Yogendra Singh