Unseeded players Koel Shankar and Jannia Singh created history by defeating higher ranked players to reach the Girls U-19 Finals of the Otters Club Open Squash Tournament 2018 Co-Sponsored by Rustomjee & Deutsche Bank played at the Otters Club squash courts on Wednesday.
Jannia Singh posing after her semi final victory against Amira Singh at the Otters Club Open Squash Tournament
Both the players have had a dream run in the tournament beating some of the best players of the country to reach the finals. Both the players were made hard to work for their wins beating them in epic 5 game thrillers. In the first semi-final, Koel Shankar was up against Tanaya Parakh who started the game on a winning note beating Koel 11-6 in the first game. Koel managed to hold off Tanaya in the second game winning it by 11-9. Unable to maintain consistency Koel succumbed to an 8-11 defeat in the third game. After the setback, Koel came into her element and comfortably took the 4th and the 5th game by 11-1, 11-8 to beat Tanaya 6-11, 11-9.8-11, 11-1, 11-8 to reach the finals.
In another epic match, Giant killer Jannia Singh beat the higher ranked Amira Singh 9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 12-10. Jannia struggled at the start as she could not find her rhythm losing to first two games 9-11, 8-11 and trailing 2-5 in the tird staring at a straight game defeat. Jannia displayed the attitude of a champion in the third game beating Amira 11-8 in a third game to save the match. Thereafter Jannia dominated Amira winning all the crucial points taking the 4th and the 5th game 11-4, 12-10 to reach the Finals.
When asked about her Semi-Final win Jannia Said, “It was one of the toughest matches of the tournament, I had lost 2 games and was trailing 2-5 in the third. I changed my strategy and pulled myself together to take the third game after that I thought about winning each point and making Amira work hard for the points. My strategy paid off as I was able to take the fourth and the fifth game winning the match. I look forward to playing Koel in the Finals as she is also an unseeded player I am sure it will be challenging and exciting.”
In the Men’s category 20-year-old Velavan Senthilkumar shocked the players and fans alike by defeating the India No.10 Abhishek Agarwal 11-5, 12-10, 11-8 to reach the Finals. Meanwhile, Abhishek Pradhan sailed through to the finals with ease beating Ranjit Singh 11-7, 11-7, 11-6.
In the Women’s Semi-Finals top seed Urwashi Joshi breezed past Mayuri Namasivayam beating her 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 to reach the finals. Meanwhile, Second seed Sachika Balvani had to retire due to neck injury sending Akanksha Salunkhe to the finals.
Results Men’s Semi-Finals
Abhishek Pradhan [1] bt Ranjit Singh [3/4] 11-7 11-7 11-6; Velavan Senthilkumar [3] bt Abhishek Agarwal [2]11-5 12-10 11-8
Girls U-19 Semi Finals
Koel Shankar bt Tanaya M Parakh [3] 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-1, 11-8; Jannia Singh bt Amira Singh [5/8]9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 12-10.
Result’s Women’s Semi-Finals
Urwashi Joshi [1] bt Mayuri Namasivayam [5/8]11-7 11-3 11-5; Akanksha Salunkhe – Sachika Balvani [2] Retired.