THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Goan duo Akanksha Salunkhe and Yash Fadte won the Indian Junior Open Squash Tournament in Jodhpur on Wednesday. While Akanksha continued to show the consistency she is known for, the Goan lass was on the winning side of all junior tournaments in India, irrespective of category.
This was the 7th edition of the Indian Junior Tournament, the open event in which players from other countries had participated in large numbers. The IJO is a WSF, ASF & SRFI Junior Circuit 4 star event organized by the Squash Rackets Federation of India and conducted by the Rajasthan Squash Rackets Association.
For Akanksha it was clean performance as she won the title without dropping a single game. She thus continues to be on top the rankings since past two years. Her brother, Yash finished 7th in the tournament after having lost to Tanay Panjabi from Maharashtra. He won the match against Atharva Yadav from Delhi, an erstwhile Goan player.
Yash Fadte also won in his category of Boys U-15. The final match was thrilling and absolutely exciting to watch as he won against Veer Chotrani of Maharashtra, 3-2 with a score of 12-14, 15-13, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11. Even Yash had not dropped a game till the final.
Yash showed that he has gained form once again having win the tournament from being seeded 3/4. Another star Goan player, Arman Chowfin came 7th having lost in the quarter-finals. Aryan did very well in the tournament by reaching pre-quarter finals having placed 26th on the seeding. Thus he has now come to 9/16 position, far higher than his seeding in the tournament.
The Goan now would head back tomorrow and start preparations for the most important tournament in the domestic circuit, the Junior Nationals scheduled from October 26 to 31 in Kolkata. Their coach, Rehman Hubli would be a proud man now with these rising stars. However, good results only imply even harder work and these kids may not have time to rest.
Akanksha shall play the professional PSA Woman's Tournament in Chennai from October 19. She has been fortunate to have got a wild card entry in the main draw in the event and should capitalise on this.
PATH TO GLORY
Akanksha Salunkhe
Pre-quarters - beat Hema Dhanya, 3-0
Quarter-finals - beat Aradhana Kasturiraj, 3-0
Semi-finals - beat Koel Shankar from Maharashtra, 3-0
Finals - beat Sunaina Kuruvilla from TN, 3-0
YASH FADTE
Round 1 - beat Jatin Khetani, Rajasthan, 3-0
Round 2 - beat Karan Singh, 3-0
Pre-quarters - beat Prithvi Singh, 3-0
Quarter-finals - beat Inderjeet Singh, 3-0
Semi-finals - beat Saksham Choudhary, 3-0
Finals - beat Veer Chotrani, 3-2
