WHEN WISPA, the world body of women squash professionals, allotted an open tournament to India, to be conducted at the SDAT-India Cements courts in Chennai, the expectation was that some Indians too would be in the fray. The earlier editions had a token Indian presence. But the draw that the England-based WISPA prepared had no Indian nor was there any wild card. Youngsters Joshna Chinappa and Vaidehi Reddy were just back from Malaysia after taking part in the World junior championship. N. Ramachandran, Secretary-General, Squash Rackets Federation of India explained that since the junior girls needed a break, two senior players, Mekhala Subedar and Deepali were offered slots in the qualifying round but they did not make it. So what interest will this foreign showpiece provide for Indian fans, was the question. But as it turned out, there was plenty of entertainment.
In squash, as in other sport, there are some players who win because of their hard work and dedication and some who can be a sheer delight but may not necessarily be winners always. Ellen Petersen, a 27-year-old bright-eyed medical student from Denmark falls into the first category. Hardworking and supremely fit, she plays with little frills and performs like a well-tuned robot. Ranked 23 in the world and top-seeded here, Ellen went on to win the Indian Open, pocket the $1520 reward and never quite wondered if there could have been any other result.
From the way she dictated terms none would have questioned Ellen's superiority either but for one reason - Omneya Abdel Kawy, the Egyptian wonderkid. Such is her talent and her choice of strokes, that this 15-year-old is a sensation in today's squash. From her physical attributes - knock knees and pigeon footed - nobody would rate her high. But she makes her supposed handicap look frivolous with her racket-talk which in effect can have a mesmerising effect. Ask England's Helen Easton, who would not have gone through a greater stress in recent times or Cheryl Beaumont, another English girl but with an Indian mix (her mother is an Indian), who virtually lost her cool in despair.
What Omneya did was not blast the ball around or seek winners with power-packed drives but caressed the rubber and directed it at her own will. The delicate backhand drops or the forehand boasts were executed with such felicity that they could be breathtaking sights. And there were the backhand drives which often had her opponent go the wrong way. Such was the deceptive twist she imparted to the racket.
It was ironical that with all this rich repertoire Omneya still finished next best to Ellen. But that is the difference between one who plans and the other who plays on instinct. The Dane won but the Egyptian delighted. Ellen had uncertain moments only in her preliminary outing, against Malaysian Tricia Chuah. "I am not used to this humid weather having come from a cold climate back home," she said, regretting for not arriving in the city earlier to acclimatise whereas her opponent was used to the heat. A loss to Tricia in the opening game made everyone sit up. But Tricia had the dubious distinction of having lost a tie after being just two points away from victory in the World junior championship. It did not go that far here as Ellen bounced back.
Against Omneya she had a game plan. The Danish top-ranker realised that the only way the talented Omneya could be shackled would be to ensure that she did not get the angles going. And so when Ellen showed her customary cool and efficiency in negotiating returns, both away and close, she also ensured that Omneya moved around. "I could see that she was breathing hard at the end of the first game," said Ellen and as any professional would do, she exploited that. Omneya repeatedly committed errors and everyone was wondered where her touch had vanished. But then any top player has an off day and Omneya was no exception. "It was not my day," was her simple reply as the kid in her surfaced.
Only in the previous three matches this girl had looked a veteran and played with such abandon that it was a pity there was not enough audience to appreciate the ballet-like act. The glide to the corner, the hops to the back court and the ease with which the returns were made to leave an anguish on the opponent's face. Perhaps none showed the discomfiture more than Helen Easton, who had the mortification of winning the first game and then losing the next two without a point on the board! That match was Omneya's best outing. In the case of Ellen, whenever she was foxed by the young opponent, the Dane was sporting to openly acknowledge the brilliance with a clap on her racket.
It is only players like Omneya who give a touch of class to a tournament and leave an impact on the spectators. So what if there were no Indians? Squash, afterall, was the greatest winner.
The results:Final: Ellen Petersen (Denmark) beat Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egypt) 9-3, 9-1, 9-2.
Semi-finals: Ellen Petersen beat Sharon Wee (Mal) 9-2, 9-3, 9-1; Omneya Abdel Kawy beat Cheryl Beaumont (Eng) 10-8, 9-1, 9-2.
Quarter-finals: Ellen Peterson beat Tricia Chuah (Mal) 2-9, 9-1, 9-1, 9-2; Sharon Wee beat Christina Mak (HK) 9-5, 9-6, 9-1; Cheryl Beaumont beat Eman El Amir (Egypt) 9-2, 9-3, 10-8; Omneya Abdel Kawy beat Helen Easton (Eng) 6-9, 9-0, 9-0, 5-9, 9-1.
IT was Ellen Petersen's first visit to India. She was apprehensive because friends back home in Denmark had told her of the possible cultural shock. Besides, she was not too comfortable with the hot climate. And when she finally landed in Chennai what struck her most was the sight of poverty. "I wanted to give them money but people advised me not to give as there would be no end," she said, adding, "how come still they all look happy?"
The humidity worried her but fitness is an area where she does not compromise. Exercise before and after the match was a must and emotions rarely mirrored on her face.
A soccer player till the age of 16, Ellen even represented Denmark in the under-16 tournaments. The switch to squash came through a trip to Australia as a student. Medicine is her chosen line of studies but she decided to be a part-time student since the Government helped in the form of scholarships for extended study, in her country. Ellen could thus indulge in her new sport even if at a late age. Such was her resolve that when she returned from Australia, she pursued the game with the intention of becoming the Danish champion. She became one and then came the turn to seek greater achievements outside the country.
Ranked 23 and aiming to scale higher, Ellen has begun this year well with this Chennai triumph, which is her third tournament title. To Hong Kong next and then to Egypt... the journey is going to be long but for someone who is 27 now and will finish her medical course in 2003 a clean eight and half years after she started, there is still time and opportunities to excel more.
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