Maharashtra Open Squash Championship from November 5

Mumbai, Nov 1 (UNI) Leading players like Gaurav Nandrajog, Shakti Singh, Vikas Jhangra and Manish Chotrani will vie for top honours in the 31st Bombay Gymkhana Maharashtra State Open Squash Championship which will be held here from November 5 to 10.

The championship, sponsored by HSBC Bank and co-sponsored by Westside and Lee, will see England's Mandy Kennedy, the winner of the recently concluded Otters Open vie with the Paranjpe sisters - Shivangi and Madhura for top honours, it was announced at a press conference here today.

The tournament however has been robbed of its glamour with the non-participation of Sourav Ghosal and Ritwik Bhattacharya-the top men's players in India and Joshna Chinappa in the women's section.

The three are busy with prior commitments, it was informed at the press conference.

Organised by Bombay Gymkhana under the aegis of the Squash Racquets Federation of India and the Squash Racquets Association of Maharashtra, the tournament will carry a total prize money of 3.75 lakh, with the men's winner getting Rs 50,000, while the women's winner taking home Rs 35,000.

The tournament which has seen around 100 entries from all over the country, including a strong contingent from Chennai, will be held in 15 categories, Deepak Malhotra, tournament director, announced at the press conference.

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