Joshna, Dipika ensure India’s win over Japan

Having beaten Netherlands yesterday and Japan today, India will play Canada next for the 9-10 classification. India had finished 14th in the previous edition.

India survived a minor scare before edging out Japan 2-1 in the second play-off match in the World women’s team squash championship with Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa registering wins.

Dipika Pallikal Karthik beat Satomi Watanabe in a do-or-die match as India survived a minor scare before edging out Japan 2-1 in the second play-off match in the World women’s team squash championship here today.

Having beaten Netherlands yesterday and Japan today, India will play Canada next for the 9-10 classification. India had finished 14th in the previous edition.

The happy ending today was assured by the seasoned Dipika after Joshna’s flawless start had put India 1-0 up in the tie.

Newcomer Sunayna Kuruvilla showed a lot of confidence against Risa Sugimoto, even led 2-1 in the game scores before she crumbled.

“A touch of uncertainty unfortunately did her in,” said national coach Cyrus Poncha, who felt the youngster had otherwise showed much improvement in her approach.

With the match at 1-1, Dipika left nothing to chance as she swiftly made short work of Satomi Watanabe in straight games to ensure India’s win.

The results: India beat Japan 2-1 (Joshna Chinappa bt Misaki Kobayashi 11-4, 11-6, 11-9; Sunayna Kuruvilla lost to Risa Sugimoto 7-11, 13-11, 11-6, 10-12, 6-11; Dipika Pallikal Karthik bt Satomi Watanabe 11-5, 11-7, 11-9)