the goan I network
PANAJI
Rising Goan squash player Yash Fadte added yet another prize to his trophy cabinet as he won the U-19 boys title at the 3rd Indian Classic Junior Open Squash Tournament on Wednesday.
The 16-year-old from Vasco, who chose to play in the higher age category, outlasted surprise finalist Chaitanya Shah 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5 in the final played at Bombay Gymkhana, Mumbai.
The final was expected to be a tight affair with Chaitanya riding on momentum of upsetting top seed Tushar Shahani in a four-game thriller in their semi-final clash.
In the end, although Yash was stretched by his opponent from Maharashtra, he did well to drop just one set and win in four sets.
The unseeded Yash -- who had to dig deep to beat number 2 seed Rahul Baitha (Maharashtra) 8-11, 13-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7 -- took the first two sets 11-7.
However Chaitanya made a comeback in the third set, edging it 11-9, before Yash sealed the title by taking the fourth 11-5.
The Vasco lad, who has been making waves in the men’s and the junior circuit, said he was prepared for a tough fight from Chaitanya.
“I have competed against Chaitanya in finals since I was 10 and I have a good
rivalry with him. He is always a tough opponent and was in great form coming into the
final, beating (top seed) Tushar in the semis,”
Yash said.
“I knew he was a big threat but I kept things simple and made him work around the court to tire him, which eventually worked in my favour,” he added.
The Goan boy had earlier outplayed Raunak Advani of Maharashtra 11-7, 11-1, 11-4
in the quarter-finals after getting the better of Chennai
lad Gowtham Karthick 11-2, 11-5 11-3 in the pre-quarterfinals.
He had opened his campaign against Niraj Kabra (17/32) with a routine 11-2, 11-1, 11-1 win before getting a bye in his second round match.
