National women's champion Joshana Chinappa and men's third seed Mahesh Mangaonkar kept the Indian challenge alive in the USD 15000 NSCI Open JSW Indian Squash Circuit by entering the finals of their respective events here today.
Joshana, the third seed, continued her impressive form into tomorrow's women's finals with a quick 11-0 11-4 11-8 win against Fiona Moverley of England by taking control of the game from the start, setting the pace and moving Moverley around the court. She won in 27 minutes.
Mangaonkar, also seeded third, made quick work of his Egyptian semi final opponent, Mozen Gamal, to enter tomorrow's final, winning in straight games, Gamal, a qualifier, seemed to run out of steam after four days of play and was beaten 11-6 11-1 11-6 in 29 minutes.
He played well in the first game, but in the second, Mangaonkar dominated, giving away only one point. Gamal managed a short run in the third, closing Mangaonkar's 9-2 lead to 10-6 with a couple of solid shots. But in the end, Mangaonkar took the match 11-6 11-1 11-6 in 29 minutes.
Joshana, ranked 24th in the world, will meet womens top seed Habiba Mohammed of Egypt in the final after the latter edged out her country woman Hania El Hammamy in a long, acrimonious match that had both players disputing with the referee in the other semi final.
The top seeded woman won the all-Egypt contest 7-11 7-11 11-7 11-7 11-4 in 63 minutes.
Mangaonkar will meet top seed Adrian Waller of England in the final. The latter despatched Egypts Karim El Hammamy in a lengthy, three-game battle that saw Waller prevail 11-3 12-10 15-13 in 75 minutes.
The results (semi-finals): Women: Joshana Chinappa (IND) beat Fiona Moverley (ENG) 11-9 11-4 11-8; Habiba Mohamed (EGY) beat Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 7-11 7-11 11-7 11-7 11-4.
Men: Adrian Waller (ENG) beat Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 11-3 12-10 13-11; Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) beat Mazen Gamal (EGY) 11-6 11-1 11-6.
