Squash time at Bombay Gymkhana

Besides the 42nd Maharashtra Open, the Bombay Gymkhana will also host the 9th Indian Junior Open (IJO) from September 2 to 6.

Tamil Nadu’s Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu will be one of the star attractions in the men’s section of the Rs. 5.84 lakh 42nd Maharashtra Open to be played at the Bombay Gymkhana.

Tamil Nadu’s Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, who recently lost to Mahesh Mangaonkar in the semifinals of the  national squash championship at Greater Noida, leads a strong field in the men’s section of the Rs. 5.84 lakh 42nd Maharashtra Open to be played at the Bombay Gymkhana from August 31 to September 3.

The men’s draw of the second biggest tournament in the country after the nationals, has one foreigner in England’s World No. 132, Robert Downer.  The men’s winner will receive a prize money of Rs. 1.3 lakh, runner-up Rs.75,000, 3rd Rs. 40,000, 4th Rs, 35,000. The women’s winner will receive Rs. 40,000 and the runner-up Rs. 25,000.

The Bombay Gymkhana will also host the Rs. 6.48 lakh prize money 9th Indian Junior Open (IJO) from September 2 to 6. The IJO is an Asian Squash Federation Platinum Tournament. A number of players from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Czech Republic and Sri Lanka have entered the tournament. "The entries are routed through the SRFI and the gymkhana has decided to increase the prize money for the under-19 girls in order to bring it on par with the prize money for boy’s under-19,’’ said Sumeet Rewari, Championship Director.

The gymkhana has also scheduled a tournament for the under-9 boys and girls, apart from the IJO competitions in the U-11, U-13, U-15, U-17, U-19 categories. "We have received 30 entries in the U-9, around 20 from outside Mumbai. There has been enquiries from many parents for this group,’’ said Vijay Paranjape, Organising Chairman. Manan Mashruwala is the Championship Administrator.

Seeding list (Maharashtra Open) Men: 1. Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (TN); 2. Robert Downer (Eng) 3-4: Aditya Jagtap (Mah) and Ravi Dixit (Har); 5-8: Abhishek Agarwal (Mah), Gaurav Nandrajog (Del), Sandeep Jangra (Ser) and Vikas Jangra (Del)

Women: 1. Sachika Ingale (UP), 2. Urwashi Joshi (Mah); 3-4: Ashita Pranaya Bhengra (TN), Sachika Balvani (Mah); 5-8: Oma Choudhary (Raj), Pranjali Sharma (Mah), Riya Sisodia (Del), Sarah Vethekar (Mah)

IJO: Boy’s under -19: 1. Chan Chi Ho (Hong Kong), 2. Ho Ka Kei (Hong Kong), 3-4: Rahul Baitha and Vikas Mehra ;  5-8: Aryan Parekh, Rutvik Rau, Shivam Bansal, Simranjit Singh  

Girl’s under-19 :  1. Sanika Choudhary, 2. Ashita Pranaya Bhengra, 3-4: Aaradhana Kasturiraj. Diya Singh; 5-8: Kadambari Pawar, Mira Kamat (USA), Pranjali Sharma, Simran Nagpal.