Joshna,Harinder to spearhead Indian challenge

Joshna Chinappa will spearhead the Indian campaign in the women section,while Harinder Pal Singh will represent the local challenge in the PSA and WISPA Indian Challenger squash tournament.

National champions Joshna Chinappa will spearhead the Indian campaign in the women section,while Harinder Pal Singh will represent the local challenge in the PSA and WISPA Indian Challenger squash tournament commencing here on Monday.

While a lot will depend on second seed Joshna in the women section,sixth seed Dipika Pallikal will also be expected to do justice to her growing reputation in the USD 8,000 WISPA event.

World number 29 Sharon Wee has been given the top seed while Orla Noom (world no. 43) of the Netherlands and Elise Ng (46) of Hong Kong add sheen to the event.

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Joshna and Dipika have been drawn in the bottom half and they would meet in the semifinals if they win their first two matches.

In the first round,Joshna plays unseeded Coline Aumard of France,while Dipika takes on Jenna Gates of England.

In the men’s section,Siddharth Suchde’s pull out with injury leaves Harinder as the lone Indian in the main draw of the USD 10,000 event.

The men’s section is loaded with possibilities as Harinder is in a good nick,particularly after winning his maiden title in PSA last month. He had also some fine wins over top seeded players in the just concluded World Championship in Denmark.

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England’s Chris Simpson,world ranked 38,has been given the pride of place in the seeding for PSA event and Shamsul Islam of Pakistan is seeded eight.

Compared to the events held from September 7 to 12,the coming events are higher rated and the winners will accrue more ranking points and prize money.

The Squash Rackets Federation of India has decided to hold two more PSA and WISPA events in the next two months in order to help the Indian players get vital ranking points in their respective sections at home instead of touring abroad.

The field in both PSA and WISPA are strong and cream of middle level players in the world would be seen in action besides some Indian juniors,including Harinder and Anaka Alankamony won the titles in PSA and WISPA events last month.

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Anaka also created history by not only winning her maiden title but also becoming the youngest player ever to win a WISPA title.

In the WISPA qualifying event to be held on Tuesday,Anaka,Aparajitha Balamurukan and Zephanie Curgenven of England have been given a bye,while India’s Shria Khatri and Harita Omprakash will fight for the fourth slot in the main draw.