Sandeep, Joshna champs

Second seed Sandeep Jangra became the new men's champion, while India No 1 and women's top seed Joshna Chinappa regained the women's crown, in the 32nd Bombay Gymkhana Maharashtra State Open Squash Championships, co-sponsored by HSBC and Sapat, at the Bombay Gymkhana, in Mumbai, on Friday.

Maharashtra's Sandeep endured a late challenge from cousin and top seed Vikas Jangra of the Services to coast to an impressive 9-5, 9-2, 10-9 victory in a final that lasted 50 minutes.

Both entered the final with much in common. Apart from being related, they started their careers from the Jindal stable at the same time and, as such, were familiar with each others' games.

But Sandeep surged to a surprise 2-0 lead in quick time as Vikas hit the tin and committed unforced errors at regular intervals. Vikas also squandered an 8-3 advantage, twice on game-ball, in the crucial third game after an exhibition of brilliant stroke-play and entertaining rallies.

Sandeep clawed his way back to make it 9-all and sealed his maiden men's Open triumph with a forehand smack that left Vikas bewildered.

Sandeep earned Rs 1 lakh for his effort, as the men's and women's prize has been doubled this year.

Chinappa needed just 30 minutes to demolish defending champion Mandy Kennedy of England 9-3, 9-5, 9-5 in the women's final. Her only blemish was a 2-5 deficit in the second game before she recovered to snatch a 2-0 lead.
Chinappa received Rs 30,000 for her victory.

But Mandy's eight-year-old son Ben made amends when he clinched the under-9 title with a thrilling 8-10, 9-1, 10-9, 8-9, 9-3 triumph over Aman Girish Rau of Maharashtra.

Another other significant winner was Saumya Karki of Maharashtra, who helped herself to a double with the girls' under-15 and under-13 titles.

It was all in the family as top seed Shivangi Paranjpe overcame sister Madhura for the girls' under-19 crown following a fluent 9-4, 9-5, 9-2 victory in an all-Bombay Gymkhana contest.

Results (All finals):
Men's Open: Sandeep Jangra (Mah) bt Vikas Jangra (Services) 9-5, 9-2, 10-9.
Women's: Joshna Chinappa (TN) bt Mandy Kennedy (Mah) 9-3, 9-5, 9-5.
Boys' under-19: Laxman Joshi (Mah) bt Cyrus Vakil (Mah) 9-6, 9-0, 9-3.
Boys' under-17: Karm Kumar (Del) bt Abhishek Pradhan (Mah) 9-3, 9-2, 10-8.
Boys' under-15: Abhishek Pradhan (Mah) bt Aakash Borwankar (Mah) 9-5, 9-5, 9-1.
Boys' under-13: Kush Kumar (Del) bt Deepak Mishra (Del) 9-3, 2-9, 9-2, 9-2.
Boys' under-11: Yohan Pandole (Mah) bt Rajat Agarwal (Mah) 9-1, 9-4, 9-1.
Girls' under-19: Shivangi Paranjpe (Mah) bt Madhura Paranjpe (Mah) 9-4, 9-5, 9-2.
Girls' under-17: Sachika Balvani (Mah) bt Urvashi Mishra (Mah) 9-2, 9-5, 9-0.
Girls' under-15: Saumya Karki (Mah) bt Sachika Balvani (Mah) 6-9, 10-8, 9-4, 9-4.
Girls' under-13: Saumya Karki (Mah) bt Urvashi Joshi (Mah) 9-4, 9-2, 9-4.
Girls' under-11: Pankhuri Malhotra (Del) bt Aishwarya Bhattacharya (Mah) 9-1, 9-0, 9-0.
Under-9: Ben Kennedy (Mah) bt Aman Girish Rau (Mah) 8-10, 9-1, 10-9, 8-9, 9-3.
Over-55: Dr. B.I. Singh (Del) bt Raj Manchanda (Mah) 9-2, 9-0, 9-3.
Over-45: Dr. B.I. Singh (Del) bt Vaman Apte (Mah) 9-2, 9-7, 9-4.
Over-35: Raja Parthasarathy (Mah) bt Jehangir Surti (Mah) 9-7, 9-8, 9-0.
Professionals: Rohit More (Mah) bt Sanjay Pawar (Mah) 9-5, 9-3, 10-9.