CHENNAI: Anaka Alankamony of India staved off stiff resistance from top seed Tsz Wing Tong (Hong Kong) to bag the Asian Junior (U-19) girls squash title in a contest lasting five games.
The Chennaiite became the third Indian after Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal to win the Asian crown.
Tong, who had a flawless record against Alankamony, started aggressively to take the first game 11-6.
But Anaka drew level, almost immediately. She slowed down her game much to her opponent’s discomfiture and started getting her drop shots on target to take the second game 11-8.
A close third game game saw Tong winning 12-10. However, at crucial points in both the fourth and fifth games, Anaka held her nerve to win both 11-7, making her coach Cyrus Poncha proud.
“She was eligible to play in the U-17 category, but was determined to participate in the U-19 section. It’s a remarkable achievement,” he said.
Ramit Tandon looked like making it a double for India. Showing his superior racket skills against Pakistan’s Danish Atlas Khan, Ramit won the first game 11-9 and took a 7-2 lead in the next.
But Danish won nine straight points, as the match swung on its head. Danish went on to win the U-19 boys title at 9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5. Earlier, Saumya Karki lost to Ho Ka Po 17-15, 10-12, 11-5, 11-3 in the U-17 girls final. India bagged one gold, two silver & five bronze from the event.