Ritwik sets up title clash with Iskandar

MUMBAI; Top-seed Mohd Azlan Iskandar of Malaysia and second-seed Ritwik Bhattacharya of India advanced to the men's open title round with comfortable victories in the semi-finals of the 33rd Bombay Gymkhana-HSBC Maharashtra State Open Squash Championships here on Thursday.
    
Former national champion Bhattacharya swept past unseeded Vikas Jangra of the Services 11-7, 11-3, 11-2 in a semi-final that lasted just 23 minutes.
    
Iskander, the world no. 11, stroked out compatriot and third-seed Muhd Asyraf Azan, ranked 101st in the world, 11-7, 11-2, 11-6 in 26 minutes in the other semi-final.
    
Women's top seed and India no. 1 Joshna Chinappa booked her berth in the final with a facile 11-5, 11-3, 11-9 win over fourth-seed Surbhi Mishra.
    
She awaits the winner of the second semi-final between second-seed Dipika Pallikal and no. 3 Mandy Kennedy, the Mumbai-based English player, in the final.
    
Familiar with Azan's game, Iskandar kept the ball in play and was in no hurry to end the rallies as he controlled the match from the back of the court.
    
Bhattacharya found the going easy as he toyed with a hapless Jangra to sail through.
    
"I was confident from the start. I got my swing right. But the most important thing is I am enjoying my game better than I ever did," said a delighted Bhattacharya who is set to take part in the forthcoming World Open.
    
India's top junior Mahesh Mangaonkar of Mumbai set himself up for a double after advancing to the boys under-17 and under-15 finals along with Saumya Karki, who entered the girls' under-19 and under-17 finals.
    
Semi-final results:
    
Men's Open: Ritwik Bhattacharya bt Vikas Jangra 11-7, 11-3, 11-2; Mohd. Azlan Iskandar (Malaysia) bt Muhd Asyraf Azan (Malaysia) 11-7, 11-2, 11-6.
    
Women: Joshna Chinappa bt Surbhi Mishra 11-5, 11-3, 11-9.
    
Boys U-19: Vikram Malhotra bt Naveen Jangra 11-4, 11-7, 11-9; Laxman Joshi bt Gunraj Singh 11-6, 11-5, 4-11, 11-2.
    
Boys U-17: Mahesh Mangaonkar bt Ashray Ohri 11-6, 13-11, 11-6; Karm Kumar bt Samir Mistrya 11-6, 11-1, 11-6.
    
Boys U-15: Rahil Fazelbhoy bt Ishan Advani 11-3, 11-9, 11-7; Mahesh Mangaonkar bt Aditya Advani 11-7, 11-8, 11-2.
    
Boys U-13: Raghav Mehrotra bt Yohan Pandole 11-6, 11-4, 11-6; A. Kochhar bt A. Shah 11-8, 11-4, 11-6.
    
Boys U-11: Yohan Surti bt Vedant Rao 11-2, 11-4, 11-6; K. Prasad bt R Agarwal 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9.
    
Girls U-19: Surbhi Mishra bt Shaheen Madraswala 11-4, 11-5, 11-5; Saumya Karki bt Shria Khatri 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4.
    
Girls U-17: Shri Khatri bt k. Agarwal 11-3, 11-1, 11-6; Saumya Karki bt A Kulkarni 11-3, 11-1, 11-1.
    
Girls U-13: A Advani bt A Mehra 11-2, 11-3, 11-4; G Raheja bt A Nambiar 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9.
    
Professionals: Rohit More bt Sanjay Pawar 11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9; Temo Gomez bt Sachin Jadhav 11-8, 12-10, 11-3.