Saurav, Anne are champions with easy win

Chennai, July 6 (UNI) Top speed Saurav Ghosal, recovered after dropping the first game to take home the title with a 7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 win over compatriot Ritwick Bhatacharya, but Dipika Palikal failed to make it a double for India going down tamely to Hong Kong's Annie Au 9-3, 10-8, 10-8 in the PSA-WISPA Chennai Open squash championships at the India Cements Limited (ICL) Academy here today.

In the finals, Saurav, India's top player in the professioal circuit and the national champion, who won his first International title this year, shook off a sluggish start and found his game, which had deserted him in the semis, albeit making it to the final, he came through after losing the first game tamely.

Unleashinhg his repertoire of strokes and variation, changing his game in the second, Saruav who kept a calm and composed Ritwick at bay, led 9-3 in the second before dropping four points in a row and coming through, 9-5 10-6 in the third and 10-5 in the deciding fourth. Ritwick lost his game, making several unforced errors.

In the women final, Dipika, on whom, the motley crowd banked on to see an Indian double, however, let slip the oppourtunity after playing herself back into the match, losing the first game tamely to Annie.

Annie playing a strong forehand, raced to a 7-1 lead before allowing Dipika to take a point and at 8-2, she droped another point in favour of Dipika. But Dipika was outplayed, playing a short game, instead of prolonging the rallies.

In the second game, Dipika came back strongly from 0-8 down to draw level at 8-8. But she fell into errors and lost out on extra points.

Her woe was compounded in the third game, when Dipika levelled 7-7, down with 4-7, with some delectable drop shots. But Annie down 7-8, levelled 8-8 and led 9-8 and wrapped up the contest 10-8.

This was Annies second WISPA title. '' She made too many mistakes'', Annie said about Dipika adding ''I played a patient game.'' Results(final) : Men: Saurav Ghosal (Ind) bt Ritwick Bhattcharya(India) 7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 Women: Annie Au (Hong Kong) bt Dipika Pallikal (Ind) 9-3, 10-8, 10-8 UNI VV KVV AB RK2020