Joshna Chinappa clinches Asian Individual Squash Championship

On 30 April, Joshna Chinappa wrote history for Indian squash when she clinched the Asian title defeating her compatriot Dipika Pallikal Karthik in the final. It was the first all-India final in the history of the Championship. The 78-minute long match saw an even contest of will and skill between the two before the former emerged victorious in the deciding set.

Joshna has previously been crowned as the Junior Asian Champion. But this historic win is India’s first victory in the senior Women’s Asian Individual Championship. Dipika fought hard till the last set before losing 13-15, 12-10, 11-13, 11-4 and 11-4 to Joshna.

This match saw Dipika lead twice after the first and third sets. But Joshna’s confidence was undeterred and she overcame the trail with steady efforts. The first set went long into a deuce and Dipika held tight to snatch it 13-15. The situation was similar with the second set until Joshna triumphed this time.

The third set too went into a deuce and was fought neck and neck. Dipika saved two match points on her way to taking the set. The fourth set was a do or die for Joshna and that showed in her play. She hardly gave any chance to Dipika to lead and took the set 11-4.

Dipika suffered an injury scare in the final set as she slipped and fell on the court. Joshna grabbed a healthy lead, and despite a fightback from Dipika, won the set and thus the match.

In the men’s final, however, Saurav Ghosal, the national champion was defeated by No.1 seed Max Lee. Ghosal went down 11-5, 4- 11, 8-11, 7-11 in 61 minutes against Lee to finish second best. It was the first title for the player from Hong Kong. Even after taking the first set, the Indian lost his way and gave the next three sets to his rival.