Chennai, January 21: India’s top woman player Joshna Chinappa stayed on course for her fourth WISPA title as she entered the semi-final with a clinical win over Lauren Selby of England in the Indian Challenger $8,000 prize money squash championship at the Indian Squash Academy here on Thursday.
In the men’s quarterfinal matches, fifth seed, Siddharth Suchde of India, ranked 101, went down fighting to second seed Robbie Temple of England (ranked 63) 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 in 54 minutes.
Suchde, who was almost pinned to the back, had difficulties but the manner in which the Indian came back from a 0-7 deficit to win the third game at 11-9 speaks volumes about his abilities and killer instinct for turning half chances into winners.
In the fourth game, Suchde allowed Temple, a southpaw, to get back to rhythm from 4-6 to score three points in a row all with his double handed back hand winners after rallies. However, Suchde was able to take three points (7-10) facing match ball, but Temple after a long rally won the point and the match.
Playing in the all-glass centre court, Joshna, the lone Indian on view, was never looked wanting, perhaps excepting in the third game against Selby, before winning at 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-1 in 33 minutes.
Looking to be much fitter, the Indian Squash Academy trainee, who is pursuing her graduation in Psychology at the Madras University, brought about her manipulations from the front court to score points and at the same time made Selby err most often. She plays Lauren Siddal (third seed) in the quarterfinals Friday.
The WISPA draw shows a possibility of second seed Joey Chan of Hong Kong and Joshna to vie for the finals, as the former looked all set to progress in the championship with a well-planned 11-1, 11-8, 11-9 win over Colin Aumard of France.
Chan will be taking on qualifier Siyoli Waters of South Africa in the semi final. Waters kept up her momentum of winning effort as she quelled the challenge of a fighting Laura Pomportes of France 11-6, 11-9, 16-14.
The men’s semi finals will be between Temple and fourth seeded Abdullah Al Mezayen of Kuwait and Stephen Coppinger (top seed-South Africa) against unseeded Amr Khaled Khalifa of Egypt.
The results (quarter-finals):
PSA Challenger: 1-Stephen Coppinger (South Africa) bt 7-Kristian Frost Olessen (Denmark) 11-2, 13-11, 12-10 (42 mins); Amr Khaled Khalifa (Egypt) bt 6-Karim AGA Samy (Egypt) 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3 (39 mins); 4-Abdullah al Mezayen (Kuwait) bt 8-Anson Kwong (Hong Kong) 11-4, 13-11, 11-7 (25 mins); 2-Robbie Temple (England) bt 5-Siddharth Suchde (India) 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 (54 mins).
WISPA Challenger: 1- Joshna Chinappa (India) bt 6-Lauren Selby (England) 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-1 (33mins); 3-Lauren Siddal (England) bt Q-Faustine Gilles (France) 11-2, 11-7, 11-3 (20 mins; Q-Siyoli Waters (South Africa) bt Laura Pomportes (France) 11-6, 11-9, 16-14; 2-Joey Chan (Hong Kong) bt 8-Colin Aumard (France) 11-1, 11-8, 11-9 (20 min).
—Agencies