Joshna lifts NSC Super Satellite Series crown

Chennai, Nov 21: India`s highest-ranked Indian squash player Joshna Chinappa won back-to-back titles when she

defeated a fighting Asian Junior champion Wee Wern of Malaysia in straight games to clinch the NSC Super Satellite Series crown at the National Squash Centre, Bukit Jalil, this afternoon. Joshna, ranked 39 in the world, played a tactical game to beat Wern 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 for her second title inside a week. She had earlier accounted for the Malaysian in the NSC Super Satellite No 3 final last week, also in straight games. Malaysia`s top national junior player, Wern had secured a repeat final against Joshna eliminating Melody Francis of Australia 11-2, 11-2, 11-4 in the semi-finals. Top-seeded Joshna came back from a set down to beat Malaysian fourth-seed Siti Munirah Jusoh 9-11, 11-3, 11-2, 11-7 in 26 minutes in her last four clash yesterday. An elated Joshna told PTI from Kuala Lumpur that she wants to maintain her winning run in order to get to the top-20 in WISPA rankings. "I hope I am able to maintain the momentum to get to the top 20 (in WISPA). This is my realistic goal to achieve by next year. It should be possible because these days I am playing well and much harder at that. More importantly, I am little more confident," she said. As for today`s final, Joshna gave credit to the fighting display by Wern. "She is a consistent player on tours. She is much young and able to move well on court. But both of us were charged up for today`s final. Wern played much better than last week`s final." Joshna said her ability to keep her cool helped her to make vital breakthroughs. "Wern had planned to keep me under rallies but I won most of the big points. I was able to score winners mostly on nicks and low kills. Low short kills are not my repertoire but today I had to adapt that method to close rallies and it worked in my favour.” "Importantly, I was more comfortable on court today and cashed in on all the chances that came my way. In all the three games I held on to a short lead," Joshna said adding that this was her first back-to-back title win at this level. On her future, Joshan said, "I will be back home and have to prepare for the World Doubles in Chennai from December 15 to 20. All our players will be training and to play alongside with them including Saurav Ghosal will help me train beter." Bureau Report