Gallant Mikhail recovers to overcome Rohan


Playing in familiar surroundings Mikhail Mehta of Cricket Club of India staged a remarkable fight back to overcome Rohan Daravada in five hard-fought games 3-2, in an engrossing boys’ under-11 first round match of the 77th CCI-Western India Slam squash championship organized by the Cricket Club of India (CCI) under the auspices of the SRFI (Squash Raquets Federation of India) and played at the refurbished CCI squash courts on Sunday.

Mikhail was slow to get off the block and dropped the first two games as Rohan played steadily to take a 2-0 lead. But, Mikhail who was facing defeat did not give up easily, and bounced back by winning the next three games to script a 5-11, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, and 13-11 victory.

Ranvir Bhatia

In the boys’ under-13 contest, CCI youngsters Ranvir Bhatia, Ayaan Dalal and Yusuf Pardiwala enjoyed smooth sailing and comfortably won their first round encounters. Ranvir overcame Arvaan Parikh winning in straight games 11-4, 11-4, 11-8, while Ayaan tamed Tanay Kamat coasting to a 11-4, 11-2, 11-4 win while Yusuf quashed the challenge from Parshva Lakdawala posting a 11-7, 11-1, 11-5 win.

The contest between Siddharth Kalani and Samar Kazmi also witnessed a tense tussle for supremacy. Siddharth stayed focused and managed to clinch a satisfying 5-11, 15-13, 9-11, 11-3, and 11-7 win to progress to the second round.

In two closely contested girls’ under-11 matches, Alekha Jalan dropped one game in defeating Diva Khandelwal 11-8, 11-3, 6-11, and 11-2, while Harshita Siyote staved off a strong fight from Rahini Chheda romping to a 11-9,  11-5, and 11-4 win.

Earlier, in a closely fought boys’ under-11 match, Karl Pithavalla got the better of Siddharth Mamania winning in four games at 11-8, 10-12, 11-2, and 11-7.

Results – Girls’ U-11 (Round-I): Alekha Jalan bt Diva Khandelwal 11-8, 11-3, 6-11, 11-2; Anaya Nayak bt Aashna Shah 11-4, 11-6, 11-4; Simran Sanghvi bt Sohi Shah 11-3, 11-4, 11-2; Harshita Siyote bt Rahini Chheda 11-9,  11-5, 11-4; Sanaya Gajria bt Janhavi Shingava 11-2, 11-1, 11-6.

Boys’ U-11 (Round-I): Mohan Prabhu Pardhi bt Umesh Niraguda 11-1, 11-1, 11-1; Aaditya Shah bt Ahaan Shah 11-1, 11-1, 11-1; Shayan Samtani bt Kalp Hiteshkumar 11-0, 11-3, 11-4; Mohan Shingwa bt Aadit Oswal 11-3, 11-3, 11-1; Mikhail Mehta bt Rohan Daravada 5-11, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 13-11; Karl Pithavalla bt Siddharth Mamania 11-8, 10-12, 11-2, 11-7.

Boys’ U-13 (Round-I): Siddharth Kalani bt Samar Kazmi 5-11, 15-13, 9-11, 11-3, 11-7; Ayaan Dalal bt Tanay Kamat 11-4, 11-2, 11-4; Dhanvin Shroff bt Prabir Shah 11-6, 11-9, 11-3; Yusuf Pardiwala bt Parshva Lakdawala 11-7, 11-1, 11-5; Ranvir Bhatia bt Arvaan Parikh 11-4, 11-4, 11-8; Aarush Tiwari bt Izaan Kotwal 11-9, 5-11, 11-1, 11-7.

Boys’ U-15 (Round-I): Jyotirmay Bhadech bt Vedant Chauhan 11-9, 11-5, 11-3; Arnav Dharia bt Krishnav Bubna 11-5, 11-3, 11-4; Het Mehta bt Drishya Todi 11-5, 14-12, 11-6; Harsh Joshi bt Roshan Avik S. 11-3, 11-6, 11-8; Roshan Hira Nirguda bt Kavish Bhasin 11-7, 11-4, 11-3;

Boys’ U-17 (Round-I): Vedan Maheshwari bt Lakshya Jain11-5, 11-7, 11-2; Aimaan Zakaria bt Ruhhan Arora 11-1, 11-3, 11-2;