Ritwik retains title in PSA Squash tourney

Chennai, June 18 (UNI) Ritwik Bhattacharya downed his dutch opponent to retain the title in the 10,000 dollars Chennai Open PSA Squash championship here this evening.

In a mis-match that lasted barely 25 minutes, second seeded Ritwik played with clinical precision to pack off third seed Dylan Bennett of Netherlands 11-4, 11-2,11-7 to annexe the title for the second successive year.

Ritwik carried home the winner's purse of 1300 dollars and Bennett, who looked totally out of sorts today, had to be content with the runner-up prize of 800 dollars.

''I played a clinical game today. He (Dylan) is a dangerous player. Since I played a tight game , he could not take much advantage'', an elated Ritwik later said.

Today's contest was one of the shortest finals ever played at the ICL courts in recent past. Such was his performance that Ritwik reduced his lanky rival to a mere pedestrian.

Either in drawing Bennett close to the tin and finishing the rally with powerful winners, or hitting the corner, it was a vintage performance from the National Champion. Except for the third game in which the lead changed hands till 5-5, it was Ritwik all the way.

He started off well, running up a 4-2 lead in the first before pocketing the game at 11-4.

Bennett, visibly upset over some 'let' calls, failed to use his height advantage. His was a mere slam bang approach and looked clueless, hitting the 'tin' repeatedly.

The trend continued in the second with Ritwik hitting some delectable shots and coming up with deft drops to win the game 11-2 in a more emphatic fasion.

The lead kept changing hands in the third game till 5-5, before Ritwik cut loose. He led 9-5 and 10-6, before he squandered a match point. That hardly altered the outcome of the contest as a low drop shot was enough for the Indian to finish off the contest in style.

Results : Final: Ritwik Bhattacharya (Ind) bt Dylan Bennett (Neth) 11-4, 11-2, 11-7.

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