Gaurav could well have put it across Jaiswal as he was 2-1 up and led 9-4 in the fourth. Their absorbing clash lasted two hours. So exhausted was Gaurav that he had little choice but to concede his men’s semi-final against Manish Choitrani.

Doshi had a more or less similar misfortune. He was two games up before going down to Rohan Juneja in the under 19 semi-final and games up before going down to Rohan Juneja in the under 19 semi-final and had to play his men’s semi-final against Paul Ferreira soon after. Such rivalry is good for the players as well as the game because it motivates them to run the extra mile and work harder on their game. The tournament, carrying Rs. 1.25 lakhs in prize-money attracted over 150 entries for the four events. Despite all the ups and downs that caused tremendous excitement the eventual champions, almost predictably, were Manish Choitrani in the men’s, National champion Mekhala Subedar who was a cut above the rest, in the women’s and Avish Jaiswal in the under 19. The professionals event saw Rajesh Verma lowering the colours of top-seeded Chandrakant Pawar but it was not exactly a surprise as the much younger Verma was the fitter and faster than Pawar.

The presence of cricketer Salil Ankola and actress Anita Raj added a touch of glamour to the prize-distribution function and dinner at the Haveli in Juhu.

Final scores:
U-19: Avish Jaiswal beat Rohan Juneja  17-16, 15-13, 7-15, 15-14.   
Men’s: Manish Choitrani beat Paul Ferreira  15-11, 15-9, 15-11    
Professionals:  Rajesh Verma beat Chandrakant Pawar  15-4, 15-5, 15- 9   
women: Mehkala Subedar beaf Deepali Anvekar  15-12, 15-7, 15-11

An exclusive event for junior is rare. That too carrying attractive scholarship. It was made possible thanks to Pix Transmissions Ltd. who underwrote the Pix Junior Championship to the tune of Rs. 1.25 lakhs. Out of the amount Rs. 55,000 went to the players.

Promoted by the Professional Management Group, the tournament had six events, including doubles. And provided a great opportunity to the youngsters to parade their skills. Siddharth Suchde and Auloke Mathur, both barely 13, made the most of it. While Suchde won the under-14 event and reached the semi-final of the under16. Mathur was the runner up in the under-14 and semi-finalist in the under16.

Mathur who took to the game barely two years ago and is being guided by Cyrus Poncha was adjudged the player of the tournament.

Supriya Balsekar was another to create a fine impression. Barely 12, She stormed to the under-19 girls final where of course Deepali Anvekar proved a little too strong for her.

Avish Jaiswal had a close call against Parth Doshi in the semi-final before winning the under-19 title. Junaid Nathani won under-16 event and Karanpal Sethi, the under-12.

Finals scores:

Mekhla Subedar looks like following in the footsteps of Misha Grewal. She beat Sohini Kumari in the final. Sohini is the younger sister of Bhuwaneshwari Kumari, who ruled women’s squash for over a decade in the eighties. For three years Mekhla was runner-up to Misha, who has called it a day. Mekhla is a product of the army courts. Daughter of Col. Subedar, now posted at Deolali, she has had the advantage of practising with men. Though she has played abroad in a few tournaments not much success has come her way. But when it is realised that even Candy Bhuwaneshwari didn’t win any foreign title, this is not surprising. In a short while Mekhla has had the guidance of coaches like Satinder Bajwa and other Indian coaches.

On court she is a picture of concentration. As Indian women players go she is quite mobile and has good stamina. Once she gets the exposure that Indian women have always lacked, Mekhla could make a mark. But the going is going will be tough as always. Misha Grewal had some sponsorship coming her way in Dubai but even then she could make no headway in the women’s ladder. She kept playing on the circuit and while doing that there was always a danger of de-training. Mekhla is not wanting in ambition and drive if one goes by her declaration that she wants to be among the top 20 in the world in two years time. Well it’s not bad to have an ambition. Indian squash is lucky to have an Indian champion who aims high inspite of realising the odds stacked against her.

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