Supriya overshadows Rhea

MUMBAI, OCT 3: Second seed Mihir Kapoor had to battle against foot faults, lapses in concentration and a gritty third seed Mahesh Verma, before prevailing in five games to enter the boys under-19 final of the WMI-Little Masters Junior squash tournament at Willingdon Sports Club today.

He set up a repeat title clash with top seed Junaid Nathani, who dropped a game before getting the better of Delhi’s fourth seed Neerav Tomar. In the first upset of the tournament, second seed Rhea Bhandare was shown the door by fourth seed Supriya Balsekar in the girls under-19 semi-final. Supriya won 10-9, 9-3, 3-9, 8-10, 9-5 to set up a clash with top seed Deepali Anvekar, who blew away Priyanka Yadav 9-2, 9-1, 9-2.

RESULTS (ALL SEMIS, SEEDINGS IN PREFIX)

BOYS (U-19): 1-Junaid Nathani bt 4-Neerav Tomar 6-9, 9-3, 9-3, 9-2; 2-Mihir Kapoor bt 3-Mahesh Verma 5-9, 9-2, 9-3, 4-9, 9-2. (U-17): 2-Neerav Tomar bt 3-Vishal Kapoor 5-9, 9-6, 9-3, 10-9. (U-15): 2-Saurav Goshal bt 4-Rishabh Singhvi 9-3, 9-4, 9-0; 1-Karan Sethibt 3-Vikas Jangra 9-3, 6-9, 9-6, 9-3. (U-13): 1-Gautam Kalani bt 3-Sandeep Jangra 9-2, 9-2, 9-3; 2-Nikhil Seth bt Jay Bhagat 9-0, 9-3, 9-7.

GIRLS (U-19): 4-Supriya Balsekar bt 2-Rhea Bhandare 10-9, 9-3, 3-9, 8-10, 9-5; 1-Deepali Anvekar bt Priyanka Yadav 9-2, 9-1, 9-2. (U-13): 2-Natasha Lall bt 4-Saachi Mehta 9-3, 9-1, 9-2; 1-Alisha Mashruwala bt 3-Shailee Shelke 9-0, 9-0, 9-0.