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TOP SEED SANDHU INTO FINALWITH MASTERCLASS | 21st October 2015 | PICTURES

 

Harinderpal Sandhu, India No 2 and National Champion in 2014 came with a plan and executed to perfection. Tight length, sticking to the glass walls, delicate drops as well varying the pace to perfection. He was always in front of his younger opponent - Youssef Soliman from Egypt who himself is no pushover! Runner up at the World Juniors Soliman is one of the brightest stars coming out of Egypt - he seems to have it all. Great control, calm head, no nonsense, perfect gentleman on and off the court and a happy player. The 1st game saw Sandhu establish his length and an average length of each rally was 25-30 shots. Both players were finding each other out and testing the limits.
 
Some forced errors, 2 amazing straight drives which solemon couldn't pick up and a lovely drop in nick got Sandhu his first game ball at 10-4 and closed out the game 11-4 with another trademark b/h drop into the nick.
 
The 2nd was another long game which was a repeat of the 1st with both players trading points till 4-4 and then Sandhu pulling ahead to win the 2nd game and needing to win just another game to win the match and book a place in the final tomorrow!!
 
The 3rd game saw both players attacking more and Harinder and Soliman both hitting 3 balls into the tin as well as 3 winners. At 5-5 Sandhu again won a crucial rally after 23 shots to again get his nose ahead 8-5 and win fairly comfortably on the all glass court.
 
Soliman, "I wasn't prepared for the Glass Court. Next time will be different. something to improve on for the Future. Sandhu was too strong today!"
 
Sandhu, "Very excited to be in the final and am looking fwd to playing my best tomorrow."
HONG KONG THE WINNER. TOP SQUASH ON DISPLAY IN CHENNAI | 21st October 2015 | PICTURES

 

)In the all HK semi Final both girls played a excellent match with the higher ranked No 3 seed Liu Tsz Ling winning in a hard fought match. Both players worked very hard and set an amazing example for the Juniors at the ISA Academy in chennai. Giving a 100% on every point and trading shots, points, games and eventually forcing the match into a decider.
 
After winning the 1st game Liu seemed to be on the backfoot and lost game 2 and 3 to the young Tong Tsz Wing who use her power as well as fitness to go 2 games up.
 
In the 4th Liu looked much sharper and ook it into the deciding game which also she surged ahead right from the begining to win the match 11-6 after 63 mins in one of the longest matches of the PSA W10 event.
 
She will play the winner of Nouran Torky or Millie Tomlinson tomorrow in the Women';s final.
TOMLINSON KNOCKS OUT EL TORKY IN STRAIGHT GAMES | 21st October 2015 | PICTURES

 

After their contrasting wins in the quarter finals yesterday this one was a bit difficult to call.Tomlinson started stronger opening up a 4-1 lead before Nouran pulled back to 3-5, earned a no-let and drove one deep into the back hand corner to level at 5. An unforced error gave Tomlinson the lead again as she played another controlled point to lead 7-5.
 
A stroke to Nouran . An unforced error by Nouran and a searching drive from Tomlinson followed by a nick and one more unforced error from Nouran and the English girl had the first in the bag at 11-6. The feisty Nouran came out a bit more energised as she hurriedly opened up a 5-0 lead before Tomlinson stemmed the flow with two of her own for 2-5. A few traded errors and Nouran led 7-3.Nouran repeatedly chose a convoluted path to the ball as Tomlinson pulled to 5-7. A brace of good points and it was 9-5 to the Egyptian . Contrasting demeanour on the court - The English girl quietly going about her business as Nouran was questioning too many calls. Tomlinson had her foot on the pedal as she impressively reeled four in a row to make it 9-9.
 
Nouran wasn't done - as she played a tight point that was followed by a clinically precise drop from Tomlinson. 10-10. The composed Tomlinson completed the comeback in the second. She had won seven points in a row to take it 12-10. Had the Egyptian given herself a mountain to climb by upsetting her own equilibrium?.
 
Tomlinson took charge of the third straightaway as she led 5-1 playing some clever squash. Another delicate drop followed by a stroke made it 7-1. One that hugged the wall and it was 8-1. Nouran battled on to 4-8 following it up with one that was razor sharp and in a trice she had narrowed it to 6-8. Another tight length made it 7-8. Nouran was playing a lot better but still getting involved with too many calls. Hand out 9-7, a superb back hand volley drop and a deep shot finished it for Tomlinson at 11-7.
 
A sound performance by Tomlinson who will play Liu Tsz Ling for the title tomorrow.
THE TWO EGYPTIANS TOOK THE COURT TO BATTLE FOR THE SPOT IN FINAL | 21st October 2015 | PICTURES

 

Reda has been on the road for a while - Mumbai, Oslo where he won, the U.S Open and then a few days in Egypt on the way to Chennai. He mentioned he was a bit lagged four days ago but has moved through the draw with some efficiency. He looked relaxed and composed after his impressive warm up routine. There wasn't much to choose as Gamal matched his more experienced countryman consistently. At 7-7 in the first Reda stepped on the accelerator raising it a notch to win the first at 11-8.
 
The second was a lot like the first - some long rallies, some hard hitting and some deception. Mazen grittily hung in to peg back a 5-9 deficit to to 9-10 where he played a classic to take it to extra points. At 10-10 the momentum was with Mazen as he inexplicably yielded a very straightforward point. 11-10 Reda. A fine point from Reda gave him a useful 2-0 lead. Mazen looked a tad disappointed as he clearly had the momentum to level. Second game to Reda 12-10.
 
The third was a different script as Reda was showing more urgency with Mazen perhaps ruing the last two points of the second. Reda raced to a 6-2 lead and then 8-3. Mazen didn't have the answers as Reda brought up match ball with some more consistency to take the third 11-4A spot in the final with the Indian top seed Harinderpal Sandhu tomorrow which promises to be a cracker
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