Chennai, January 30: The Indian junior boys team created history when they downed archrivals and holders Pakistan in the 15th Asian Junior Team Championships held in Colombo, Sri Lanka to win this prestigious title for the first time in Indian squash history since the inception of the Asian Championships in 1981.
Playing to a packed crowd at the Sri Lankan Air Force base squash venue, the Indian players comprising Ramit Tandon, Abhishek Pradhan, Mahesh Mangaonkar and Vrishab Kotian rose to the occasion as they outmanoeuvred and out played the mighty Pakistanis, according to a Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) press release here today.
Captain Ramit Tandon who had been untested so far confirmed that he is certainly the most improved Indian squash player in recent times. Playing Danish Atlas Khan the Pakistani no. 1, the match lasted 90 min and went the distance with Ramit displaying his amazing skills.
Winning the first game 11-7 with his comprehensive finish shots Ramit was pumped up. He lost the second game 6-11, but came back strongly in the third winning it 11-9.
Danish then took the fourth game 11-8, setting a tough fifth game ahead. They played great squash and the score was neck to neck till 6-6, then Ramit jumped to a 9-6 lead. Danish then fought back to level the score and 9-9. The next two were blistering rallies with both players moving to every inch of the court. Ramit finally won the game 11-9 with a backhand volley drop.
Abhishek Pradhan the no. 2 player was next on with Nasir Iqbal.
As much as Abhishek tried running the 4 corners of the court retrieving many shots he could, in the end he was outplayed and lost 0-3.
The decider saw lanky players in action, Mahesh Mangaonkar and Sadam Ul Haq. From the onset Mahesh stamped his authority and did not give the Pakistani any hopes of winning this tie. Showing true class Mahesh romped home 3-0 as the elated Indian team jumped for joy.
–UNI