Salil Ankola (Ex-cricketer & T.V. Artist), Awisch Jayaswal (Winner U-19), Mahendra Agarwal (Founder Director, ISP), Rajesh Verma (Professional’s Winner), Manish Chotrani (Men’s Winner), Narendra Gour (Director,ISP), Mekhala Subedar (Winner in women’s category), Dr. Ali Irani (Physiotherapist of Indian Cricket team), Subhash Wali (Director, ISP), Vijay Gautam (Collector, Mumbai District) & Anita Raaj (Film actress) at the prize distribution ceremony held at  Haveli Restaurant, Juhu, Mumbai

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All Results :

All Finals :
Men: Manish Chotrani Beat Paul Fereira 15-11/15-9/15-11
Women: Mekhala Subedar Beat Deepali Anvekar 15-12/15-7/15-11
Under-19:Awisch Jayaswal Bt Rohan Juneja 17-16/15-13/7-15/15-14.
Professional: Rajesh Verma Beat C.S.Pawar 15-4/15-5/15-9

All Semi Finals:
Men:
Paul Fereira beat Parth Doshi 15-7, 17-15, 15-11
Manish Chotrani w/o Gaurav Juneja
Women:
Mekhala Subedar w/o Pareenita Chaudhari
Deepali Anvekar bt Charishma Juneja 15-9, 15-12, 15-9

Press Articles of tournament : 

Avish downs Rohan in thriller to clinch under-19 title
(Article in Asian Age, Mumbai : 16/2/1998)

A well calculated risk Avish Jaiswal clinching an extremely close, hard fought Boys Under-19 final against Rohan Juneja in the Rs.1.25 lakh Satellite Squash Tournament, sponsored by Mukesh Babu Group and organised by Indian Squash Professionals, at the Otters, Club on Sunday.

When Juneja saved a much point to make the score 14 all in the fourth game Jaiswal set the game at one point and won and clinched the title as well as the champion’s purse of Rs.10,000 with a superb drop.

“I was tiring a bit and he was clearly under pressure as he was down by two game to one,” explained Jaiswal when explained why he set the fourth game at one point.

Jaiswal scampered home, 17-16, 15-13, 7-15, and 15-14 and the scores provide eloquent testimony to the closeness of the final.

A key members of the Maharashtra’s men team, that won the inter-state championships recently, Jaiswal was picking up his second title in a fornight. He had won the Prix tournament earlier. There was not much to choose between the rivals. Rohan who is aiming to proceed to the United States of America, both to study.

Gaurav struggles
(Article in Times of India, Mumbai : 13/2/1997)

Abhijit Kukreja went down fighting to fourth-seed Gaurav Juneja in the men’s pre-quarter-finals of the Rs.1.25 lakh Indian Squash Professionals Satellite tournament played at the Otters Club on Thursday. Gaurav prevailed 12-15, 15-11, 15-7, 15-8.

Two years younger to Gaurav, 16 years old Kukreja threatened to pull off a big upset when he won a well fought first game. Gaurav, however, tightened his play thereafter to ward off Kukreja’s challenge.

Kukreja goes down fighting to Gaurav
(Article in Asian Age, Mumbai : 12/2/1997)

Abhijit Kukerja put up a commendable performance while going to fourth seed Gaurav Juneja in the men’s pre-quarter final of the Rs.1.25 lakh Mukesh Babu Group-ISP Sattellite tournament at the Otters Club, here on Thursday.

Two years younger to Gaurav, the 16-year old Abhijit threatened pull off an upset when he clinched the first game. However Gaurav tightened up his game thereafter and warded off Abhijit’s determined challenge to win 12-15, 15-11, 15-7, 15-8.

Interestingly the two will be clashing again in the boys under-19 quarter finals on Friday. The line-up for the quarter finals is Avish Jaiswal Vs Sachin Khattar, Amit Pal Kohli Vs Parth Doshi and Karanpal Sethi Vs Rohan Juneja.

An under-14, Siddharth Suchde showed both skill and pluck of a high order while losing in three close sets 15-13, 15-11, 15-13, to the top seed Avish Jaiswal in the boys under-19 pre-quarterfinal.

Rajesh Sonawane was the only one among the four Sonawane brothers and cousins to survive the second round of the Professionals event. Rajesh however met his match in the men’s where he lost to second seed Paul Ferriera 9-15, 10-15, 11-15.

Jaiswal tops
(Article in Express Newsline, Mumbai : 15/2/1997)

Avish Jaiswal won the boys under-19 final against Rohan Juneja in the Rs.1.25 lakhs Stallite Squash tournament, sponsored by Mukesh Babu Group and organised by Indian Squash Professionals, at the Otters Club on Sunday. But he had to fight hard and take a big risk before he emerged triumphant.

When Juneja pulled level at 14 all in the fourth game, Jaiswal set the game at one point and clinched the title as well as the champion’s purse of Rs.10,000 with superb drop. Jaiswal squeaked home, 17-16, 15-13, 7-15, 15-14.

Jaiswal, who represented Maharashtra in the Inter-State championships recently, clinched his second title in a fortnight. He had won the Prix tournament earlier.

National championship Mekhala Subedar had a spot to bother in the third game before defeating upcoming Deepali Anvekar 15-2, 15-7, 15-11 in the women’s final.

The top seeds won the other two events as well. Manish Chotrani romped through the men’s final against Paul Ferriera, 15-11, 15-9, 15-11 and Rajesh Verma defeated Chandrakant Pawar 15-4, 15-5, 15-9, in the professionals final. Both winners got Rs.15,000 and the runners-up, Rs.10,000 each.

Parth stages grand rally
(Article in free Press Journal, Mumbai : 14/02/1998)

Mumbai: Down two games, unseeded Parth staged a superb rally to shock third-seeded Amitpal Kohli in the boys under-19 quarter-finals round of the Rs.1.25 lakh Mukesh Babu Group-Indian squash professionals satellite Tournament at the Otters Club’s glass-back court on Saturday.

About a fortnight ago Doshi had fought back from two games down in the PIX semifinals against Avish Jaiswal but lost in the fifth. It was a different story on Friday primarily because of two factors. One was his steely determination. The other was his superior stamina.

The runner-up at the Asian Under-16 last year, Doshi also gained a lot through a clever switch of tactics. He effectively employed the lob-drop combination from the third game. He clinched a lot of points through his cleverly disguised drop.

Doshi, who won, 11-5, 15-17, 15-10, 15-10, 15-9, assured himself of Rs. 2,500/- and is most likely to meet Rohan Juneja next. The other semifinal will be between Avish Jaiswal, and top seed and Gaurav Juneja.

Though it was a family affair, twins Gaurav and Rihan Juneja fought tooth and nail before Gaurav clinched their men’s quarterfinal at 15-10, 15-1, 8-15, 6-15, 15-7. Gaurav had also won their last clash in the PIX semi-finals.

In the best match in the professionals’ quarterfinals, second-seeded Chandrakant Pawar was given a trying time by Ramesh More before prevailing at 15-13, 17-16, 16-17, 15-12.

Newly crowned national women’s Mekhala Subedar, trounced Sonia Suri 15-13, 15-5, 15-1 to earn a clash in the semi-finals with third seed Parineeta Chowdhary, who got past Aisha Shah 15-12, 15-6, 10-15, 15-13.

The other women’s semifinals will pit second seed Deepali Anvekar, who got a quarter-final walkover, against fourth seed Karishma Juneja. The latter downed Sarita Jetwani 15-13, 15-7, 15-9.

Taran beats Sethi but loses to Parth Doshi
(Article in Free Press Journal, Mumbai : 12/02/1998)

on the face of it, they had little at stake. Both were past their prime with fitness their main weakness. Yet they fought hard before Inderpal Singh overcame Suyog Dwivedi 15-7, 15-13, 15-8 in the men’s first round of the Rs.1.25 lakh Mukesh Babu Group Indian squash professionals satellite tournament at the Otters Club, Bandra on Wednesday.

Inderpal, 42, who had traveled all the way from Navi Mumbai, huffed and puffed but succeeded in retrieving and bringing to tought all the strokeplay and court craft of Dwivedi. Inderpal now faces a daunting task, as he runs into second seed Paul Ferreira in the second round.

It was a day of mixed fortunes for Taran Machra. While he beat Karanpal Sethi, the top under-12 player, 15-11, 15-11, 15-11, he lost to fourth seed Parth Doshi 10-15, 7-15, 1-15, in the second round. Young Anurag Gill did well to take Carl Bokdawala to four games in another match. Bokdawala won 15-9, 15-12, 11-15, 15-9. in a clash between two officials, Rustom Dalal proved too wily for Subhas Wali, winning 15-4, 15-11, 15-12.

Doshi stuns Kohli
(Article in Times of India, Mumbai : 14/02/1998)

Parth Doshi staged superb rally to upset third-seeded Amitpal Kohli 11-15, 15-17, 15-10, 15-10, 15-9 to enter the boys under-19 semifinals of the Rs.1.25 lakh Indian squash professionals satellite tournament at the Otters Club’s glassback court. Doshi upset Kohli’s rhythm with his lob and drop game. He won a lot of points with his cleverly disguised drop shots.

In the women’s section, newly crowned national champion Mekhala Subedar trounced Sonia Suri 15-3, 15-5, 15-1. She plays third seed Parineeta Choudhary in the last four. Parineeta dropped a game on the way to beating Aisha Shah.

Avish meets Rohan, Mekhala faces Deepali
(Article in Indian Express, Mumbai : 14/02/1998)

Avish Jaiswal and Rohan Juneja entered the final of the boys u-19 Mukesh Babu-Indian squash professionals Satellite tournament at Otters Club today. In the final Avish overcame stiff challenge by Gaurav Juneja to win 9-15, 12-15, 15-5, 15-13, 15-4. in the second semifinals Rohan Juneja beat Parth Joshi 16-17, 11-15, 15-13, 15-9, 15-9.

National champion Mekhala Subedar and Deepali Anvekar will contest the women’s final.

Juneja survives scare
(Article in Indian Express, Mumbai : 13/02/1998)

Abhijit Kukreja put up a commendable display while going down to fourth-seeded Gaurav Juneja in the men’s pre-quarter-finals of the Rs.1.25 lakh Mukesh Babu Group-Indian Squash Professionals Satellite tournament at the Otters Club today. Gaurav on 12-15, 15-11, 15-7, 15-8.

25th Tournament Organised by ISP