Date:16/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/16/stories/2005111606971800.htm

Sport - Squash

Tamil Nadu rallies to enter final

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu, down 1-2 against Services A, surged to an exciting 3-2 victory for a place in the senior inter-State squash championships final.

Three-time champion Maharashtra A overcame runner-up Delhi 4-1 in the second semifinal at the Otters Club courts on Tuesday.

Harinderpal Singh spurred holders TN hopes with a fighting 9-4, 3-9, 8-10, 9-6, 9-6 victory over Vikas Jangra in a thrilling semifinal.

Services A wrested lead through Navneet Narain and A Chaudhari. Parth Sharma and in-form B Balamurugan won to spark celebrations in defending champion's camp.

In the league phase, TN and Maharashtra A topped their respective pools after recording second victories in concluding ties on Monday. The former defeated Delhi 4-1 in Pool B, the latter got past Services A by same margin in Pool A to confirm semifinal berths.

TN had opened its campaign with emphatic 4-1 win over Maharashtra B, Delhi blanked Services B 5-0 in the event opener.

The results (Semifinal results): TN bt Services A 3-2 (Harinderpal Singh bt Vikas Jangra 9-4, 3-9, 8-10, 9-6, 9-6; A. Parthiban lost to Navneet Narain 1-9, 4-9, 2-9; Cyril Kuhn lost to A. Chaudhari 3-9, 1-9, 9-7, 3-9; Parth Sharma bt D. Sisodia 9-4, 9-7, 9-1; B. Balamurugan bt Shakti Singh 9-4, 9-4, 9-1).

Maharashtra A bt Delhi 4-1 (Surpreet Singh lost to Gaurav Nandrajog 9-7, 1-9, 1-9, 4-9; Sandeep Jangra bt Dhruv Dhawan 9-5, 9-1, 9-1; Vikram Malhotra bt Varun Prakash 9-0, 9-0, 9-0; Rishad Pandole bt Naresh Kumar 9-6, 9-0, 7-9, 7-9, 9-5; Manish Chotrani bt Amjad Khan 9-1, 9-3, 9-5).