NewzVille Sports Desk
Hosts India were crowned SDAT Squash World Cup champions after defeating top seeds Hong Kong, China, on home court in Express Avenue Mall, Chennai on Sunday.
In the opening match 39-year-old Chennai native Joshna Chinappa went up against 32-year-old Lee Ka Yi, and despite Lee’s higher ranking it was Chinappa who gave India the lead with a 7-3, 2-7, 7-5, 7-1 win which took 23 minutes.
In the next encounter men’s top string Abhay Singh took on Alex Lau and dominated as he doubled India’s lead in just 19 minutes with a 11-1, 11-4, 11-7 win.
Hong Kong hopes rested on Tomato Ho who needed a big victory over 17-year-old Anahat Singh to keep the match alive, but to the crowd’s delight Singh dominated to take a three-game 7-2, 7-2, 7-5 win and the title.
“It feels great playing here in Chennai,” said Chinappa. “I am so thankful that I can still be a part of the India national team, it has always been my biggest motivation to keep playing and keep training to play for India”, she added.
India had defeated the defending champion Egypt and Hong had defeated Japan in the Semi-final of the Squash World Cup.
