Unseeded Akanksha Salunkhe of Goa continued her giant-killing run en route to clinching girls’ under-19 crown in the Rs 6 lakh prize-money All-India NSCI Junior Open Squash 2015, an SRFI 4-Star Ranking event, and played at the NSCI’s glass-back courts, Worli, on Thursday evening.
Akanksha Salunkhe
Akanksha, who had knocked out top seed Vruddhi Doshi of Madhya Pradesh in the semi-final on Wednesday, sustained her fine run of form to quash the aspirations of second seed Aishwarya Bhattacharya winning the final in four games.
The Goan girl was unimpressive at the start making too many errors and lost the first game. But she gradually tightened things up and cut down on the errors in the next two games and started to hit some smart winners, a total of 32 in all, to take the match away from her opponent and complete a 10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6 victory in 28 minutes.
Later, in the boys’ under-19 final, unseeded Ranjit Singh of Uttar Pradesh grabbed the top honours defeating Krish Kapur of West Bengal in four games 13-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-4 in little over 31 minutes.
Robin Singh
Delhi’s Robin Singh Mann, the top seed brushed aside the challenge from Maharashtra’s joint third seed Aryaman Adik romping to a 3-1 claim the boys’ under-17 title. Robin started in a rousing fashion by racing to a 2-0 lead before Aryaman won a tight third game to reduce the deficit. But Robin once again dictated term in the fourth which he won comfortably to complete a 11-4, 11-6, 15-17, 11-4 win.
In the girl’s under-17 final, top-seeded Nikita Joshi of Maharashtra outplayed Diya Joukani, who is from New Zealand but based in Mumbai, in three one-sided games. Nikita was on a roll from the start and hardly put a foot wrong as she committed only 2 errors as she waltzed to a fluent 11-3, 11-3, 11-0 triumph.
Top seeds Navmi Sharma and Veer Chotrani, both from Maharashtra bagged the girls’ and boys’ under-15 titles respectively. Navmi had things very much her own way as she tamed joint third seed Jannia Singh of Chandigarh by 3-0 verdict (11-5, 11-4, 11-7), while Veer overcame state mate and second seed Rahul Baitha in four games winning at 11-8, 11-9, 13-15, 11-9.
In the girls’ under-13 final, second seed Ananya Dabke of Maharashtra prevailed over Delhi’s top seed Megha Bhatia in four closely fought games at 13-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6. The boys’ title was won by Maharashtra’s top seed Neel Joshi who staved off the challenge from Tamil Nadu’s joint third seed Kanhav Nanavati to clinch a 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4 victory.
Jaiveer Singh Dhillon of Delhi lifted the boys’ under-11 title defeating Vivaan Shah of Mahrashtra 11-6, 11-5, 6-11, 8-11, 11-6, while top seed Yuvna Gupta of Maharashtra comfortably got past second seed Pooja Arthi R. of Tamil Nadu 11-9, 12-10, 12-10.
Akanksha was presented with the winners’ trophy and the cash prize of RS 30,000, while Aishwarya received the runner-up trophy and a cheque of Rs 16,500.
Ranjit for his efforts pocketed the winners’ cheque of Rs 60,000 and the champions trophy while Krish
Robin will return home to Delhi richer by Rs 40,000 the winner’s purse, while Aryaman cashed the runners-up prize of RS 22,000. Nikita received a cash award of Rs 30,000 and Diya got Rs 16,500.
Results (all finals) – Girls’ Under-11: 1-Yuvna Gupta (MH) bt 2-Pooja Arthi R. (TN) 11-9, 12-10, 12-10.
Boys’ Under-11: Jaivir Singh Dhillon (DL) bt 3/ 4-Vivaan Shah (MH) 11-6, 11-5, 6-11, 8-11, 11-6.
Girls’ Under-13: 2-Ananya Dabke (MH) bt 1-Megha Bhatia (DL) 13-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6.
Boys’ Under-13: 1-Neel Joshi (MH) bt 3/4-Kanhav Nanavati (TN) 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4.
Girls’ Under-15: 1-Navmi Sharma (MH) bt 3/4-Jannia Singh (CH) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7.
Boys’ Under-15: Boys’ Under-15: 1-Veer Chotrani (MH) bt 2-Rahul Baitha (MH) 11-8, 11-9, 13-15, 11-9.
Girls’ Under-17: 1-Nikita Joshi (MH) bt 3/4-Diya Joukani (MH) 11-3, 11-3, 11-0.
Boys’ Under-17:1-Robin Singh Mann (DL) bt 3/4-Aryaman Adik (MH) 11-4, 11-6, 15-17, 11-4.
Girls’ Under-19: Akanksha Salunkhe (GA) bt 2-Aishwarya Bhattacharya (MH) 10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6.
Boys’ Under-19: Ranjit Singh (UP) bt Krish Kapur (WB) 13-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-4.
Prize-money awards:
Girls’ U-11 Winner – Yuvna Gupta (Rs 7,000), Runner-up – Pooja Arthi R. (Rs 3,300).
Boys’ U-11 Winner – Jaivir Singh Dhillon (Rs 10,000), Runner-up – Vivaan Shah (Rs 5,500).
Girls’ U-13 Winner – Ananya Dabke (Rs 7,000), Runner-up – Megha Bhatia (Rs 3,850).
Boys’ U-13 Winner – Neel Joshi (Rs 12,000), Runner-up – Kanhav Nanavati (Rs 6,600).
Girls’ U-15 Winner – Navmi Sharma (Rs 20,000), Runner-up – Jannia Singh (Rs 11,000).
Boys’ U-15 Winner – Veer Chotrani (Rs 25,000), Runner-up – Rahul Baitha (Rs 13,750).
Girls’ U-17 Winner – Nikita Joshi (Rs 30,000), Runner-up – Diya Joukani (Rs 16,500).
Boys’ U-17 Winner – Robin Singh Mann (Rs 40,000), Runner-up – Aryaman Adik (Rs 22,000).
Girls’ U-19 Winner – Akanksha Salunkhe (Rs 30,000), Runner-up – Aishwarya Bhattacharya (RS 16,500)
Boys’ U-19 Winner – Ranjit Singh (Rs 60,000), Runner-up – Krish Kapur (Rs 33,000).