Joshna Chinnapa claims IJM Land Penang Open title

Second seed Joshna Chinappa beat top-seed and local favourite Siti Munirah Jusoh 11-9 11-7 11-1 in 34 minutes to clinch the IJM Land Penang Open Squash 2012 title in Malaysia. The top two seeds battled it out at the Nicol David Squash Centre, having both dropped just one game en route to the final.

Chinnapa gained a walkover in her first round tie after Pakistani qualifier Zahab Khan withdrew due to injury. The Indian later battled from a game down against No.6 seed Karman Siu and defeated her by 9-11 11-6 11-2 11-7 in 25 min to face another Hong Kong international in No.3 seed Carmen Lee.

Jusoh made short work of her first round clash against compatriot Teh Min Jie, before facing fellow-Malaysian Rachel Arnold, whom she also dispatched in three games. Tong Tsz-Wing proved a tougher challenge in the semi-finals, and the top seed needed an hour to defeat the Hong Kong international.

It was the Indian who kept up her dominant form in the final however, winning a narrow first game. Jusoh’s resilience waned as the match progressed, and the gap in the score was more pronounced in the second game. Unable to match the pace, the Malaysian succumbed to defeat claiming just one point from the third game, allowing Chinnapa to claim her seventh WSA World Tour title.