JOIN USMahesh Mangaonkar of Maharashtra and Anaka Alankamony of Tamil Nadu fashioned impressive victories to help themselves to a double crown, in the Junior & Sub Junior National Championship & 69th CCI-Western India Open squash tournament, at the Cricket Club of India, here today.
Playing his last season before he steps into the senior ranks, Mangaonkar beat Deepak Mishra of Tamil Nadu in straight sets for the junior national under-19 title and later upset men's top seed David Letourneau of Canada in the same fashion in the CCI-Western India Open to complete a rewarding domestic run, following triumphs in the Maharashtra State Open and Little Masters tournaments.
Top seed in the women's and under-19 categories, Alankamony lived up to her reputation, winning in straight sets over the same opponent, compatriot Aparajitha Balamurukan.
While Mangaonkar and Alankamony won their titles with relative ease, it was the sub juniors who took away the championship honours with heart-stopping performances.
After winning the under-11 national crown two seasons ago, top seed Chaitanya Shah of Bombay Gymkhana overcame the redoubtable Veer Chotrani of Khar Gymkhana in a pulsating five-setter, after trailing 1-2, in the boys under-13 final. This was Shah's fourth title in a row following triumphs in the India Junior Open, Maharashtra State Open and Little Masters.
Seeded 3-4th, S Navaneeth Prabhu of Tamil Nadu shocked top seed and favourite Yash Fadte of Goa 4-11 11-6 6-11 11-9 11-9 in another nail-biting encounter for the boys' under-11 crown. Fadte frittered away a 2-1 lead and a 9-8 advantage in the decider.
Among the girls, Jui Kalgutkar and Nikita Joshi of Maharashtra scalped their maiden national titles. Under-15 second seed Kalgutkar upset top seed Adya Advani of Delhi in straight sets to avenge her defeat in the Maharashtra State Open semi-finals.
Top seed Joshi of Otters Club beat Diya Joukani of Khar Gymkhana in straight sets for the under-13 crown.