PANAJI
For a second time in a row, Goa's squash star Akanksha Salunkhe has secure a bronze at 73rd Senior National Squash Championships.
Akanksha, who was seeded 3/4, lost her semi-final to defending champion Joshna Chinappa, who set up the final with No 2 seed Dipika Pallikal Karthik. Akanksha was beaten 11-6, 11-2, 11-4 by the 12-time champion.
However, in defeat the Goan earned praise from Joshna, who is ranked No 10 in the world. "Akanksha played really well and she got off to a good start. Some of her shots were very impressive," Joshna said of her junior rival.
Akanksha clinched the bronze after her rival Sachika Ingle (UP) -- who had lost the other last four clash against Dipika -- conceded the third place playoff without entering the court. Earlier, after a first round bye, Akanksha won against Shikha Kumari from Bharadwaj 3-0. Next, she beat Aishwarya Khubchandani, a promising young player, 3-0. She also won her quarter-final in straight games against Urwashi Joshi of Maharashtra, 3-0.
Akanksha will now participate in the NSCI Junior Open, a tournament which she has won for the last four years. The tournament starts on July 20 and is a 4-star Asian Ranking Tournament. Later she would lead the Indian Junior team in World Junior Squash Tournament in Poland in August.
Thus, Akanksha secured another podium finish displaying her fine form as a member of the Senior national team, while also handling the mantle of being the leader of the Junior team. "Playing with Joshna was a wonderful experience. It's of huge training value," Akanksha said after finishing her campaign.
