JOIN USReigning champions Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa successfully defended their singles titles in the men’s and women’s sections respectively in the 61st National Squash Championships which concluded here on Friday.
Top seed Ghosal lived up to his billing and posted a facile 11-2, 11-1, 11-7 victory over Mahesh Mangaonkar to win his record ninth national title and a winner’s purse of Rs one lakh.
Chinappa too had it easy against youngster Aparajita Balmurukan in the women’s section and won 11-8, 11-9, 11-6.
The title clash between Ghosal and Mahesh began with a long rally which raised the hopes that the youngster would challenge the might of the World No 20. But Ghosal faced little resistance to wrap the issue in just about half an hour.
Results (all finals): Men: 1-Saurav Ghosal bt Mahesh Mangaonkar 11-2, 11-1, 11-7; Third place play-off: 2-Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu bt Ravi Dixit 12-10, 11-5, 11-5.
Women: 1-Joshana Chinappa bt 2-Aparajitha Balamurukan 11-8, 11-9, 11-6; 3rd place play-off: Sachika Ingale bt Janet Vidhi 11-8, 11-6, 11-2.