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ISC NEWS
DIXIT LOCKS HORNS WITH SOUTH AFRICA'S BRITS, WINS | 22nd September 2015 | PICTURES
Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) opened strongly with some precise dropping. Ravi Dixit (IND) then arrested the flow of points to respond with some delectable front court play often wrong footing Brits. It didn't take Dixit very long to open up a two game lead. Brits seemed set for an early evening when the door opened just a bit. Brits responded by raising his game and pulled one back at 11-8. They traded blows in the fourth till 6-6 before Dixit pulled away for a creditable 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6 win in 49 minutes.
MALHOTRA GIVES ALTAMIMI A GOOD GAME, BUT NOT ENOUGH | 22nd September 2015 | PICTURES
Vikram Malhotra (IND) came out all guns blazing and perhaps caught the solid Ammar Altamimi (KUW) off guard with his unconventional stroke play. At 10-7 the Indian, who is now based at Trinity University in the US, looked good before Altamimi clawed back with the help of a stroke to win five straight points to take the opener 12-10. Vikram continued his attacking game in the second but the solidity of Altamimi forced the errors. At 4-4 Malhotra played some delightful shots but negated those with more errors, and soon, Altamimi was firmly in the saddle.
The third saw Altamimi off to a flyer, a 6-0 lead before Malhotra worked hard to close to 5-7 and 6-8 showing more restraint finally. A stroke pulled Malhotra to 7-8, but he followed that by gifting one for 9-7. A trickle boast brought up match ball and one that was millimetres from the wall completed a solid 3-0 win for Altamimi,12-10, 11-6, 11-7 in 26 minutes.
KUMAR BREZZES PAST TALENTED INDIAN JUNIOR KAPUR | 22nd September 2015 | PICTURES
Kush Kumar fresh from his fine showing in Mumbai last week breezed past the lone Rackets Club junior in the draw, Krish Kapur, running out an effortless 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 in 23 minutes. It was a useful learning experience for Krish who is amongst the country's better junior players.
DOWNER TAKES CRACKER OF A MATCH AGAINIST POTGIETER | 22nd September 2015 | PICTURES
The drama was saved for the last match of the day which was played at incredible pace and with extraordinary fervour. Potgieter stamped his authority on Game 1 winning it 11-5 with some comfort. The energetic Downer responded admirably playing some superb volley drops and rented the air with a loud ' Come on ' as he took the second 11-4 impressively. The third was lopsided -- Potgieter opening a 6-1 lead and seeming in command. Downer had other ideas winning ten of the next twelve points. 11-8 punctuated with an even louder, "Come on.
"The humidity was getting to both but the pace remained in tact. At 9-4 Downer's body language suggested that he had this sewn. This time Potgieter responded amazingly saving four match balls to pull to 10-10 looking strong suddenly. An inability to clear the ball quick enough yielded a stroke and Downer had match ball. He made it on his fifth match ball, winning 5-11, 11-4, 11-8, 12-10 in 47 minutes.
SANJAY SINGH ENTERS SECOND ROUND OF QUALIFIER | 22nd September 2015 | PICTURES
Sanjay Singh from Malaysia barely raised a sweat as he convincingly snuffed out the aspirations of the talented Indian southpaw Velavan Senthilkumar from Chennai. Singh had his younger opponent on a leash through the match dictating play before running out a 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 winner in 20 minutes.
LAKE TAKES MATCH AGAINST A LABOURING RANVIJAY | 22nd September 2015 | PICTURES
Nathan Lake was a man in a hurry against another Indian southpaw – Ranvijay Singh. Singh, recovering from dengue had no answers to Lake who made short work of this contest, racing to a 11-7, 11-2, 11-0 win in 19 minutes.
CLOSE CONTEST BETWEEN MOLLER AND KUMAR | 22nd September 2015 | PICTURES
A close contest to start with as Edmon Lopez Moller (ESP) and Vijay Kumar (IND) pushed hard to take control early. 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 8-8 before Moller played some exquisite drops to clinch the opener in eleven minutes. A more resolute Kumar took a 3-0 lead in the second, the length was perceptibly better as he moved to 4-1 before Moller pegged back to 3-4. Some more accurate play from Kumar had him at 7-3. Moller looked composed and a tad fitter as he reeled of five straight points to grab the lead. Kumar wasn't done and played consistently to pull the match level winning the second at 11-9 with the clock at 24 minutes.
It was all Kumar at the start of the crucial third game as he worked his more experienced opponent round the court to lead 4-0. They repeatedly tested each other with drops to the forecourt on the backhand side and Moller was winning most of those as he levelled the third at 6-6. With the game getting longer the marginally better physicality of Moller was weighing in as he was winning all the longer exchanges. Kumar battled on gamely but Moller was doing just that little bit extra and a few unforced errors gave the Spaniard the 2-1 lead.
Another eleven minute game had taken its toll. Kumar had his chances. Now it was Moller in command as he rushed through the fourth to win 11-3. A fine performance by the Indian but the Spaniard's superior fitness won the day, taking the match 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3 in 46 minutes.
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