Squash World Cup: Joshna Chinappa helps India edge Japan

CHENNAI: It was billed as a mouthwatering contest, and proved to be just that. The rapidly-rising World No. 18 Satomi Watanabe was expected to be the thorn in India’s flesh. Up against her was Chennai girl Joshna Chinappa, ranked 54 places below her but bearing many more years of experience. Eager to prove a point and backed by a buoyant crowd, a fired-up Joshna prevailed in a pulsating five-game encounter to draw India level with Japan and effectively put the hosts ahead by winning the trickiest match of the tie at the Express Avenue mall here on Thursday.

Fellow veteran Saurav Ghosal sealed the deal by keeping his cool in another tense five-gamer to propel India to the top spot in Pool B and set up a semifinal with Malaysia in the Squash World Cup on Friday. It also meant that India avoided favourites Egypt in the semifinals, who topped Group A.

In the second match of the tie, the talented Satomi came up with some sublime drives as well as drops from the backhand. But with the Japanese frequently deemed to be obstructing Joshna’s way, the World No. 72 Indian was awarded an inordinately high number of points all through the encounter. Joshna soaked in all the applause coming her way from a partisan crowd and played the big points better to emerge triumphant 2-7, 7-4, 3-7, 7-5, 7-5.

An emotional Joshna later said: “Satomi has had some great results on the Tour, so it is a relief to get through.”