Chinappa chases down El Torky for Winnipeg win

Winnipeg – Canada, Feb 03, 2014: India’s Joshana Chinappa picked up the eighth WSA World Tour title of her career when she outlasted Egypt’s Heba El Torky in the final of the Winnipeg Winter Club Women’s Open, the WSA Tour 15 squash event in its fifth year at the Winnipeg Winter Club in Winnipeg, Canada.

Unseeded El Torky was the event’s talking point throughout the week. The world No 39 from Alexandria brushed aside No 7 seed Samantha Teran, third seed Emily Whitlock and then event favourite Nicolette Fernandes in quick succession to secure a shock berth in the final – the eighth of the 23-year-old’s career.

Fourth seed Chinappa, the 12-time Indian national champion from Mumbai, also had a surprise opponent in the semi-finals – Japan’s No 8 seed Misaki Kobayashi, who upset the 2013 runner-up Joey Chan in a five-game quarter-final.

Chinappa squandered a game ball in the first game to let El Torky take the opener – but struck back in the next two games to take back the lead.

World No 20 Chinappa saw El Torky draw level after winning the fourth by a significant margin – then soon found herself three match balls down at 7-10 in the decider.

However, the momentum shifted again to Chinappa as the determined Chennai-born 27-year-old ran off five points in a row to clinch the match 12-14, 11-8, 11-5, 3-11, 12-10. The success marks the second successive Indian winner of the title after Dipika Pallikal‘s triumph in 2013.

“Congratulations to both Joshana and Heba for a great tournament here in Winnipeg and to all the girls for putting on a great show here in Winnipeg at the Winnipeg Winter Club Women’s Open,” said tournament promoter Trevor Borland.

RESULTS: Winnipeg Winter Club Women’s Open, Winnipeg, Canada

1st round:

[1] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt [Q] Sina Wall (GER) 11-7, 11-2, 11-4

[5] Victoria Lust (ENG) bt Maria Toorpakai Wazir (PAK) 11-5, 11-7, 11-5

[3] Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt [WC] Alix Younger (CAN) 11-7, 11-4, 11-5

Heba El Torky (EGY) bt [7] Samantha Teran (MEX) 15-13, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8

[6] Siyoli Waters (RSA) bt Ivonne Diaz (MEX) 11-7, 11-4, 11-3

[4] Joshana Chinappa (IND) bt [Q] Jaycee Spagrud (CAN) 11-7, 11-7, 11-8

[8] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) bt Hollie Naughton (CAN) 11-7, 11-4, 11-5

[2] Joey Chan (HKG) bt Diana Elisa Garcia Fierro (MEX) 11-3, 11-4, 11-8

Quarter-finals:

[1] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt [5] Victoria Lust (ENG) 7-11, 11-7, 11-1, 16-14 (90m)

Heba El Torky (EGY) bt [3] Emily Whitlock (ENG) 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6

[4] Joshana Chinappa (IND) bt [6] Siyoli Waters (RSA) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7

[8] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) bt [2] Joey Chan (HKG) 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 13-11

Semi-finals:

Heba El Torky (EGY) bt [1] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 11-3, 11-6, 12-14, 12-10

[4] Joshana Chinappa (IND) bt [8] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9

Final:

[4] Joshana Chinappa (IND) bt Heba El Torky (EGY) 12-14, 11-8, 11-5, 3-11, 12-10. —- WSF