It will be a squash extravaganza at the Bombay Gymkhana from August 6 to August 15, when one of the cities premier venues for squash hosts the 43rd Maharashtra State Men’s Squash tournament and the 3rd Indian Classic Junior Open Squash Tournament, at their international standard glass-back squash courts.
Tournament Director, Sumeet Rewari addressing the press conference held at Bombay Gymkhana to announce two events- 43rd Maharashtra State Men’s Squash tournament and the 3rd Indian Classic Junior Open Squash Tournament.
Mumbai’s Mahesh Mangaonkar, current Indian No.3 will be the top seed for the Rs 5.25 lakh prize money, Maharashtra State championship, which is one of the longest-running squash tournaments in the country and will run from August 6 to 9. The Junior event, which has been accorded the status of an Asian Squash Federation Gold tournament is a 5-Star tournament on the Indian Junior squash circuit, will see participation from the best junior talent in the country from the age groups under-11 to under-19 and will run August 11 to 15, it was announced at a Press Conference on Friday.
Both the events will be organised under the aegis of SRFI and Maharashtra Squash Rackets Association and are sponsored by JSW, Raheja Vivarea, Shoppers Stop, Britannia, Indospace Logistics, Ellora Consultant & Crossover Catalyst.
The Championship Director, Sumeet Rewari informed media persons that over 500 entries have been received for the Indian Junior Open. “The Indian Classic Junior Open is the largest International junior event to be conducted in India. With a total of 513 entries this is one of the biggest International tournament in India in terms of participation and for the first time the event will be streamed live on SRFI website and Youtube,” said Rewari.
“The total prize money for this tournament is Rs 7 lakhs and there will equal prize money for both boys and girls winners,” he further added.
The Maharashtra State tournament will consist of competitions in Five different categories – Men’s Open, Men’s Over 35, Men’s Over 45, Men’s Over 55 and Professionals.
The top seed in the men’s event is the 24-year-old Mumbai lad Mahesh Mangaonkar, the current Indian No. 3, while Abhishek Pradhan who also hails from Mumbai is the second seed.
The State championship offers a total prize-money fund of Rs 5,25,000. The winner of the men’s event stands to become richer by Rs 1,30,000, while the runner-up will get Rs 75,000.
Vijay Paranjpe is the Organising Chairman, the Championship Director is Sumeet Rewari and the Championship Administrator is Shrikant Sheshadri
Seeding list:
Maharashtra State: Men: 1. Mahesh Mangaonkar (MAH), 2. Abhishek Pradhan (MAH), 3.Gaurav Nandrajog (DEL), 4. Abhishek Aggarwal (MAH), 5. Ravi Dixit (HAR), 6. Sandeep Jangra (Services), 7. Ranjeet Singh (UP), 8. Jamal Sakib (UP), 9. Vijay Kumar (TN), 10. Naveen Jangra (Services)
Indian Junior Open : Boys’ U-19: 1. Tushar Sahani (MAH), 2. Rahul Baitha (MAH), 3. Utkarsha Baheti (RAJ),4. Vivaan Jaikishan (MAH); 5. Anuj Unadkat (MAH), 6. Vaibhav Chauhan (Uttrakhand), 7. Avinash Yadav (MAH), 8. Shloke Sahay (MAH), 9.Suraj Chand (MAH, Jairaj Singh (Rajasthan)
Girls’ U-19: 1.Amita Gondi (TEL), 2.Radhika Rathore (MP), 3.Navmi Sharma (MAH), 4.Abhilasha Bhasin (MAH), 5.Mira Kamath (MAH), 6.Bhavana Goyal (MAH),7.Tanaya M Parag (WB), 8.Sparshi Mattas (GOA), 9.Bijlee Darvada (MAH), 10.Diya Mulani (MAH).