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A not fully fit top seeded Joshna Chinappa of India yielded the initiative in the deciding game to go down fighting to third seed Laura Siddal of England 2-3 in the semi final of the USD 8,000 WISPA Indian Challenger event sponsored by the Government of India as preparation for the ensuring Commonwealth Games.
In the men’s semi finals, unseeded Amr Khaled Khalifa (Egypt) put paid to the aspirations of top seed Stephen Coppinger of South Africa in straight games of 11-4, 11-6, 11-9 in 44 minutes, while fourth seed Abdullah al Mezayen of Kuwait came from behind to scalp second seeded Robbie Temple of England 7-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6 in 46 minutes.
Playing at the centre court of the Indian Squash Academy here, Chinappa (ranked 34) despite suffering from severe cold and cough and mild temperature due to a viral fever managed to level the score but threw in the total in the decider from being 4-5 and 5-8 to give away the fifth game and the match at 5-11. Siddal won at 10-12, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5 in 55 minutes.
Sidall pitted against second seed Joey Chan of Hong Kong will have a tough time in the final tomorrow. Chan halted the run of giant killer and qualifier, Siyoli Waters of South Africa 11-6, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9 in 34 minutes in the other semi final today.
As for Chinappa’s match, the Indian went in to the lead wrapping up the first game with her killing instincts working favourably. Trailing 2-5, Chinappa moved up bridging the lead to 5-6 but Siddal kept up her returns to perfection to lead 9-6 and then went on to serve 10-7. Here, Chinappa’s game plan and deceptive play not only helped her to save three game points but win the game at 12-10. Almost of all winners came through Chinappa’s decisions to wrong foot Siddal.
The second and third games were also turned out to be closely fought ones with the rivals sharing the honours and Chinappa led 2-1.
In the fourth, Siddal adhered to tactics of forcing Chinappa to be pinned on the back court in her 11-8 win in nine minutes but being 4-all in the decider, Chinappa found more difficulties in her movements perhaps due to her sickness.
Shrikanth Seshadri
