62nd Senior National Squash Championship - Results

Harinder Pal Singh

Third seed Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu dethroned favourite Saurav Ghosal for his maiden national men’s crown, while Joshna Chinappa helped herself to her 13^th women’s title, in the 62^nd Senior National Squash Championship held at at the Cricket Club of India, Mumbai.

Sandhu, who led 2-0, denied Ghosal a 10th national title with an 11-2, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9 victory, in an absorbing 74-minute championship round that could have gone either way. Top seed Chinappa prevailed over second seed Sachika Ingale of UP 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 in the women’s final.

“I am trying to break Bhuvneshwari Kumari’s record of 16 titles,” revealed Chinappa.

A supremely confident Sandhu, who stunned India No. 2 Mahesh Mangaonkar in the semi-finals, surged to a surprise 2-0 lead before Ghosal lived up to his reputation to force match into the decider with a stunning recovery after snatching the third and fourth sets narrowly while trailing in both.

The decider swung both ways as Ghosal led 3-0 and looked set to retain his crown until Sandhu surged back into the contest for an envious 9-4 lead. Ghosal was down but not out as he drew level at 9-all before Sandhu ended his long wait for the national title with a backhand winner.