Malhotra sets up clash with Kapoor

Mumbai, Jan 30 (UNI) Vikram Malhotra booked a place in the finals of the U/19 category of the 75th tournament, the ISP Platinum All-India Squash Carnival 2007, organized by the Indian Squash Professionals at the glass-backed squash courts of the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana and The Club, Andheri, here on Tuesday. Malhotra disposed off Kunwarpal Singh 11-8, 11-5, 10-12, 11-9.

Malhotra won a close first game and followed it up with more confident performance in the second game. The third game went down to the wire and it was Singh who pulled off a few good shots to come out the winner. The fourth game was a close one as well but Malhotra held his nerve and stayed ahead of his opponent to enter the final.

He will face Delhi boy Sohail Kapoor, who pulled off an upset to topple second seed Cyrus Vakil. Apart from the first game the second and third were a one sided affair. Vakil failed to put up enough resistance to stave off his opponent.

In the women's section top seeded Joshna Chinappa despite an injured left ankle managed to beat Shivangi Paranjpe 11-8, 11-4, 11-6. Despite some real effort from Shivangi she could upset the rhythm of Joshna. The writing was on the wall once the first game was won as for all of Shivangi's efforts she came out empty handed after the game. Joshna will meet second seed Dipika Pallikal in the final today. Pallikal managed to book her place despite strong opposition from Mandy Kennedy, specially in the third game but finally Dipika won the match 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7.

In an exciting encounter in the Boys U/17 semi final Laxman Joshi of Jindal Squash Academy got the better of Karm Kumar from Delhi in a tough five game match that was poised beautifully. Joshi had an upper hand in the game and was leading by two games to love. A surge in confidence in the boys from Delhi saw the game take an important turn. After winning the third game Kumar had his sights focused on winning the fourth game.

With the adrenalin still pumping Kumar stayed ahead of his opponent to take the fourth game 11-7. The fifth game began with both players scrapping for points. The game became high intensity with both going for the kill. Kumar stayed with Joshi. But a few nervous errors cost him dear as Joshi pulled away after they were square at 5-5. The errors continued and Kumar eventually lost the match 11-8, 11-3, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6.

Following are the results: Women's (S/F): 1-Joshna Chinappa bt 3-Sivangi Paranjpe 11-8, 11-4, 11-6; 2-Dipika Pallikal (TN) bt Mandy Kennedy 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7.

Girls u-15 (S/F): 1-Saumya Karki bt Rinki Soni ( Jindal Squash Academy) 11-3, 11-4, 11-8; 2-Ankita Sharma bt Shria Khatri 11-8, 11-5, 11-3.

Boys u-19 (S/F): 1-Vikram Malhotra bt Kunwarpal Singh 11-8, 11-5, 10-12, 11-9; Sohail Kapoor (Delhi) bt 2-Cyrus Vakil 11-9, 11-6, 11-8.

Boys u-17 (S/F): 2-Laxman Joshi (Jindal Squash Academy) bt Karm Kumar (Delhi) 11-8, 11-3, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6.

Boys u-15 (S/F): 1-Aditya Jagtap bt Aakash Borwankar 11-4, 11-3, 11-6; Abhishek Pradhan bt Pranay Merchant 11-6, 11-4, 11-7.

Boys u-13 (S/F) : 1-Mahesh Mangaonkar bt Vrishab Kotian 18-16, 11-8, 11-5; 2-Rahil Fazelbhoy bt Ishaan Advani 8-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7.

Boys&Girls u-9 (S/F): 1-Rajat Agarwal bt Jui Kalgutkar 11-0, 11-2, 11-2; 2-Sandeep Paswan bt Yohan Surti 11-7, 11-6, 11-7.

Professionals: 1-Mahesh Verma (Nashik) bt Vijay Waghela 6-11, 11-4, 11-2, 12-10; 2-Sanjay Pawar bt Sachin Jadhav 11-9, 11-3, 13-11.

For Today's clock: Squash ISP Platinum Jubilee All India Squash Carnival finals 12.00 noon onwards at JVPG&The Club.

UNI