Sport - Squash

Dipika downs Heba, enters final

CHENNAI: Dipika Pallikal, playing with controlled aggression but never missing an opportunity to hit a winner, wore down the second-seeded Egyptian Heba El Torky 11-9, 14-12, 9-11, 14-12 to move into the final of the girls’ under-19 section in the British junior open squash tournament being held at Sheffield.

The 3/4 seeded Indian will meet the top seed Low Wee Wern of Malaysia in the final.

It proved to be a delightful Monday for the Indians as two others — Kush Kumar in the boys’ under-13 category and Mahesh Mangaonkar in the boys’ under-15 division — also reached the title round.

Dipika showed her intention early by leading in the first game using the attacking boats to good purpose. However, she fell back slightly in the second before clawing back. Saving two game balls (8-10), Dipika went on to grab that game as well.

In the third, Heba seemed to find her touch. Her attacking returns were well directed and she went on to win that game.

The way the Egyptian went into a 5-1 lead in the fourth and made it 8-2 later, the contest seemed poised for a needle finish. However, Dipika showed her staying power and wriggled out of trouble with clever drops and angled returns. Saving four match balls in a tense tie-break, the Indian prevailed in 47 minutes.

Kush was outstanding while downing the top-seeded Omar El Atlas from Egypt in straight games. He played some spectacular shots, and speed, movement and consistency formed the high points of his win.

Mahesh was cool and composed and this proved to be his strength against Mazen Gamal of Egypt.

The results (semifinals):

Boys: Under-13: Kush Kumar bt Omar El Atlas (Egy) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7.

Under-15: Mahesh Mangaonkar bt Mazen Gamal (Egy) 7-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-4.

Girls: Under-19: Dipika Pallikal bt Heba El Torky (Egy) 11-9, 14-12, 9-11, 14-12.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu