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At the prize distribution function (L to R) : Mahendra Agarwal (Founder Director, ISP), Vijay
Waghela, Rajesh Rajani, Dhiraj Nagpal, Vinod Rijhwani (winning Khar Gymkhana team members) along with Mr. Khalid A-H Ansari (Chairman Emeritus, SRAM) and Noreena (Vice President, ISP) |
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After eight weeks of exciting squash action, Khar Gym 'B' reigned supreme in the
Leela-ISP Squash Classic Handicap Team Tournament beating Juhu Club Millennium 3-1 in the finals to take home 10,000 as prize money at the Leela Kempinski glass back squash court.
Khar Gym 'B' looked the stronger team going into the final have eased past their much fancied club mates Khar Gym 'A'. Juhu Club Millennium, on the other hand, were made to fight real hard against Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana
(JVPG) 'A' after trailing 2-0.
Having scraped through their tie against JVPG 'A', Club Millennium wanted to take no chances and hence played their best player Harjinder Singh in the first singles, putting him up against Dhiraj
Nagpal. The first game itself was very close and both players played long absorbing rallies that saw them push each other to the limit. Dhiraj had the first chance to close out the first game after he led 10-8, but Harjinder fought back and had two chances to close out the game after leading 12-11 and 13-12 but he missed on both occasions. |
Dhiraj tried hard to fight back but it was Harjinder who handed him the game after he made two errors on the last two points of the game. The second game also was extremely close but Dhiraj battled it out prevailing 11-9. The biggest upset of the day was provided by Club Millennium's Sanjay Goyal who beat Rohan Gracious - a player on the Mens Open circuit. The first game was straight forward with Rohan winning it 11-6. Goyal stormed back to win the second 13-11, deceiving his younger opponent with some good drop shots. The third game was a lot easier in some respects for Goyal who had by now frustrated Gracious. The latter just couldn't come back into the game and lost 7-11.
Khar Gym 'B' recovered after their mini shock and won the doubles when Rajesh Rajani and Vinod Rijhwani defeated the pair of Riaz Shaikh and Sanjay Goyal 11-4, 6-11, 11-6.
Professional Vijay Waghela (Khar Gym 'B') proved to be too strong for Jay Thapa (Juhu Club Millenium) giving him little opportunity for a fight in his 11-9, 11-9 victory.
Results :
Finals:
Khar Gym 'B' bt Club Millennium 3-1
Dhiraj Nagpal bt Harjinder Singh 15-13, 11-9;
Rohan Gracias lost to Sanjay Goyal 11-6, 11-13, 7-11;
Rajesh Rajani/ Vinod Rijhwani bt Sanjay Goyal/ Riaz Shaikh 11-4, 6-11, 11-6;
Vijay Waghela bt Jay Thapa 11-9, 11-9
Semi Finals:
Juhu Club Millennium bt JVPG 'A' 3-2
Harjinder Singh lost to Uday Mehta 9-11, 11-7, 11-13;
Ashish Bhagra lost to Vivek Khanna 11-8, 7-11, 5-11;
Sanjay Goyal/Riaz Shaikh bt Ashsish Mehta/ Sanjay Kalate 11-9, 9-11, 12-10;
Sanjay Goyal bt Ashish Mehta 8-11, 11-7, 11-8;
Jay Thapa by Sanjay Kalate 11-9, 11-6.
Khar Gym 'B' bt Khar Gym 'A' 3-0
Vijay Waghela bt Nishant Mohammed 11-8, 8-11, 11-4;
Dhiraj Nagpal bt Karan Malhotra 11-8, 5-11, 11-8;
Rajesh Rajani/ Vinod Rijhwani bt Shiv Malhotra/ Mahesh C. 11-8, 11-8. |
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