Shirgaokars, The Club reign supreme

Shirgaokars, The Club reign supreme
Express News Service

Mumbai, July 17: The father and son combination of S Shirgaokar and Niraj Shirgaokar claimed the doubles crown, while The Club, Andheri, bagged the team title as The Leela-Switcher-Monarch Twin Handicap Team & Doubles Squash Championship concluded at the Leela Hotel on Sunday.

An experienced doubles pair, the Shirgaokars were forced to battle hard against minnows Xavier Marquis and Bunty Singh before clinching an exciting final at 13-15, 15-13, 15-14 as Bunty Singh hit the tin at match ball.

The Club overcame formidable Otters `A' 2-0 to win the team tittle after Saket Wali overcame a stiff challenge from Otters' Vishal Kapoor in a thrilling second tie which went all the way to the wire.

Amitpal Kohli gave The Club the lead by winning the opening tie with a 15-13, 15-11 win over Rohan Juneja, which left Vishal Kapoor with the onus of bringing Otters back into the match.

Playing with a handicap of 8, Kapoor the winner of the under-19 tittle in the Singapore Open recently, lost the opening game in dramatic fashion at 14-15 but remained in the fray after winning the second 15-12 against Wali. But he squandered a winning opportunity at match ball after gaining a substantial 14-7 lead in the decider. Wali put Kapoor udner pressure by winning crucial points as he closed in at 14-all before hitting a winner to seal victory.

Results: Team (final): The Club bt Otters `A' 2-0 (Amitpal Kohli bt Rohan Juneja 15-13, 15-11,; Saket Wali bt Vishal Kapoor 14-15, 15-12, 15-14). 3rd/4th playoff: Andheri Recreation Club bt Willingdon Catholic gymkhana 2-1 (Bipin Batra bt Pradeep Heble 15-9, 15-13; Rohan Gracious lost to Deepali Anwekar 14-15, 12-15; Rajesh Sowane lost to Vijay Sonawane 13-15, 9-15).

Doubles (final): Niraj/ S. Shirgaonkar bt Xavier Marquis/ Bunty Singh 13-15, 15-13, 15-14.

Etambe enters final
Top seed Nagsen Etambe has entered the final of the Open singles event of the 38th Kshatriya Union Club Open District Ranking carrom tournament at the Vanmalli Hall, Dadar on Sunday. Nagsen beat Sandeep Deorukhkar in a three game duel 13-25, 25-18, 25-24 in the semi-final. He will now meet Narsinghrao Sakari in the final. Sakari defeated second seed Jagan Bengle 8-25, 25-12, 25-1 in the other semi-final.

Sandeep secured the third place when he sidelined Jagan Bengle 25-11, 25-11. Manisha Nagaokar grabbed third place when she beat Monaz Tantra 25-0, 25-14.

Dena Bank triumphs
DENA BANK defeated Jai Ambe 4-0 in a Division I A encounter of the Allwyn Maharashtra District Football Association League at the St Xavier's Ground, Parel on Monday. Aldrin Lobo scored three goals while Yakub Ansari completed the tally.

Other results: Div II B: Jet Airways 2 (Pradeep Warpe, Ryan D'Abreo) bt Chemburites 1 (Ronald). Div III A: LIC

1 (Manish Wadekar) drew with BKM

1 (Alex A Rodrigues).