TULIPSTAR - ISP DOUBLES SQUASH (MENS TOP - 8 & DOUBLES HANDICAP EVENT)

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All Results : 

MENS TOP-8 FINALS:
Gaurav Nandrajog beat Vikas Jhangra 15-10, 15-10, 15-9

SEMIFINALS:
Vikas Jhangra  beat Sahil Vora 7-15, 15-10, 15-13
Gaurav Nandrajog beat Anuraag Gill 15-3, 15-8

Quarter finals : 
Gaurav Nandrajog(Delhi) bt Kunal Jani (Otters) 15-9, 15-12
Vikas Jangra (Jindal) bt Karan Bhatty 15-14, 15-12
Sahil Vora (CCI) bt Sandeep Jangra (Jindal) 15-8, 15-10
Anurag Gill (Otters) bt  Bipin Batra 15-6, 15-12

Doubles: 

Finals:
Sanjay Goyal & G.C.Dubey (Tulip Star) beat Anurag Gill & Avinash Bhavnani (Otters) 15-5, 13-15, 15-10

Semifinals:
Avinash Bhavnani & Anurag Gill (Otters) bt Shiv Malhotra & Rajesh Rajani (Khar Gym) 6-15, 15-11, 15-12
Sanjay Goel & G.C.Dubey (Tulip Star) bt Sachin Jadhav & Sanjay Kalati (Juhu Gym) 15-10, 15-10.

Quarter Finals :
Anurag Gill & Avinash Bhavnani (Otters) beat Bunty Singh & Anil Singh (Tulip Star) 15-11, 4-15, 15-11
Sachin Jadhav (Juhu Gym) & Sanjay Kalati (Juhu Gym) beat Mohammed Merchant & Varun (Khar Gym) 15-6, 15-12
Sanjay Goyal & G.C.Dubey (Tulip Star) beat Dhiraj Nagpal & Avinash Bhatija (Khar Gym) 15-9, 12-15, 17-15
Shiv Malhotra & Rajesh Rajani (Khar Gym) beat C.S. Pawar & Mangesh Nadkarni (The Leela) 15-3, 13-15, 15-14

Press Artilces of the tournament

Goyal, Dubey emerge Champs
(Article in Indian Express, Mumbai : 14/06/2003)

Top seed Gaurav Nandrajog of Delhi was in a class of is own as he outplayed Jindal’s Vikas Jangra 15-10,15-10, 15-9 to lift the singles title in the ISP-Tulip Star doubles handicap and singles invitation squash tournament, which concluded at the Hotel Tulip Star, here, on Thursday. 

The doubles title was won by Tulip Star’s Sanjay Goel and G C Dubey, who made the most of their handicap advantage to defeat Avinash Bavnani and Anurag Gill of Otters Club 15-5, 13-15, 15-10. 

Nandrajog, ranked No. 2 in the country in the under-19 age group, used the tournament to gain valuable match practice before the Otters Open and his good form was much in evidence as he totally dominated the proceedings against Jangra. Jangra, who relies more on stamina to wear down his opponent, found in Nandrajog an equally fit player who could match him stroke for stroke. Nandrajog, however, held the edge because of his wider range of strokes and superior court craft.

Nandrajog won Rs 6,000 for his efforts, while the doubles winners gained Rs 8,000. MP Sanjay Nirupam was the chief guest and gave away the prizes.

Gaurav advances in ISP squash singles
(Article in Mid Day, Mumbai : 12/06/2003)

Delhi’s Gaurav Nandrajog had mixed fortunes in the Rs.45, 000 prize money ISP-Tulip Star handicap doubles and invitation singles squash tournament, losing his doubles encounter, but advancing into the singles semi-finals yesterday. 

In the doubles, Nandrajog and Kunal Jani could not overcome the opponents, Sanjay Goyal and G C Dubey of Tulip Star and went down 8-15, 9-15. Nandrajog then had to face his doubles partner in the singles player did not have too much trouble while winning 15-9, 15-12.

Gaurav gyaan Nandrajog on song, ready for Otters meet
(Article in Mid Day, Mumbai : 13/06/2003)

he may have lost in the handicap doubles event. But Gaurav Nandrajog made sure the doubles disappointment did not come in his way as he went on to win the singles event in the ISP-Tulip Star singles Invitational Tournament yesterday. 

The India number three in the open category and number two in the under-19 ranking beat Vikas Jangra 15-10, 15-10, 15-9 in the final. 

“The match was quite easy. I have beaten him earlier as well so I knew how to play him,” Nandrajog said. But for the 18-year-old, winning here was a important as getting enough match practice for the upcoming event at Otters Club. 

“At Otters, the competition will be much tougher. All the ranked players will be participating and performing well there will be more important for me.” 

As a player, it has been a transformation for the Delhi-based teenager ever since he began practicing in Chennai. “Delhi has fewer opportunities compared to Chennai or Mumbai,” Nandrajog said. 

Nandrajog has been training at the Indian Cements squash courts along with Joshna Chinappa and Saurav Ghosal. His seven-month-stint at Chennai has opened new avenues for him. 

“Ever since Major Maniam  (Who is a consultant to the Indian Squash Federation) came to Chennai from Malaysian, it has been a major transformation. He has changed Malaysia into a squash powerhouse and he can do the same with India. There is a lot to learn from him,” the teenager said. 

About the upcoming Otters club tournament, Nandrajog said Ritwik Bhattacharya and Ghosal would be his biggest threat in the open and under-19 category respectively. 

“I have beaten Saurav earlier, but he is tough opponent. As far as Ritwik is concerned, I would better wait and watch.

Nandrajog outplays Jangra for title
(Article in Free Press Journal, Mumbai : 14/6/2003)

Top seed Gaurav Nandrajog of Delhi was in a class of is own as he outplayed Jindal’s Vikas Jangra 15-10, 15-10, 15-9 to lift the singles title in the ISP-Tulip Star doubles handicap singles invitation squash tournament, which concluded at the Hotel Tulip Star, here, on Thursday. 

The doubles title was won by Tulip Star’s Sanjay Goyal and G C Dubey, who made the  most of their handicap advantage to defeat Avinash Bhavnani and Anurag Gill of Otters Club 15-5, 13-15, 15-10. 

Nandrajog, ranked No.2 in the country in the under-19 age group, used the tournament to gain valuable match practice before the Otters Open and his good form was much in evidence as he totally dominated the proceedings against Jangra. Jangra, who relies more on stamina to wear down his opponent, found in Nandrajog an equally fit player who could match him stroke. Nandrajog, however, held the edge because of his wider range of stroke and superior court craft. 

Nandrajog won Rs.6,000 for his efforts, while the doubles winners gained Rs.8,000. MP Sanjay Nirupam was the chief guest and gave away the prizes.

Avinash, Anurag make last-8 stage
(Article in Free Press Journal, Mumbai : 11/6/2003)

The combination of youth and experience worked for the Otters Club duo of Avinash Bhavnani and Anurag Gill, who triumphed in a hard-fought three-game encounter to advance to the quarter finals of the Rs.45,000 ISP-Tulip Star handicap doubles squash tournament at the courts of Hotel Tulip Star, here on Tuesday. 

Bhavnani and Gill made light of the handicap they conceded to Rajesh Sonawane and Bipin Batra of Willingdon Catholic Gymkhana to win 12-15, 15-8, 15-12. Also advancing into the quarter were Juhu Gym’s Sachin Jadhav and Sanjay Kalati, who beat their club mates Kishore Bamania and Anil Mohite 9-15, 15-10, 15-13. 

The second round saw some fancied names making an exit, among them the pair of Vishal Kapoor and Sachika Balwani of Otters Club, who lost to Tulip Star’s Bunty Singh and Anil Singh 5-15, 11-15. 

Mixed fortunes for Nandrajog
(Article in Asian Age, Mumbai : 12/6/2003)

Delhi’s Gaurav Nandrajog had mixed fortunes in the Rs.45,000 prize money ISP-Tulip Star Handicap Doubles and Invitation Singles Squash Tournament, losing his doubles encounter, but advancing into the singles semi-finals at the courts of Hotel Tulip Star on Wednesday. 

In the doubles, Nandrajog and Kunal Jani could not overcome the handicap they conceded to their opponents, Sanjay Goyal and G. C. Dubeyof Tulip Star and went down 8-15, 9-15. Nandrajog then had to face his doubles partner in the singles competition and the talented junior player did not have too much trouble while winning 15-9, 15-12.              

Age no issue in squash
(Article in Mid Day, Mumbai : 12/06/2003)

Senior pros at ease playing opponents half their age as Pawar, Nadkarni have showed.  

Age doesn’t matter in sports. But when a 50-year-old plays against a 19-yerar-old in a game that demands both agility and strength, age surely matters. 

When Sahil Vora and his brother Rushab won the final of the Khar Gymkhana  Doubles Squash Torunament, they overcame a stiff challenge from an opposition almost as old as their father.  

The losing finalists at Khar Gymkhana, Chnadrakant Pawar and Mangesh Nadkarni are again participating in the Tulip Star – ISP Doubels Squash Championships and are likely to cross path with many such youngster and give them a fight every time they play.  

The senior players have been helped through handicaps (a certain number of points awarded to a player when the opposition is strong) awarded to them.  

But that does not mean that they have had it easy in any of the matches.  

One such senior players, Sanjay Goyal, a committee member of the squash rackets Associatoin of Maharashtra, teamed up with Gauricharan Dubey to beat Gaurav Nadrajog and Kunal Jani. Both youngsters are among the top 10 players in India.  

“Against youngsters, you want to perform well. Age may not ne on my side, but I want to show them that I can take the fight to them,” 32-year-old Goyal said.  

Vice-president of Khar Gymkhana, Shiv Malhotra, participating in the event agrees. “Though this is a fun tournament it does get competitive. When the match is against a 19-year-old, there is definitely a point to prove.”  

Nine-time national champion Pawar, though nearing 50, used his experience to perform better than expected every time he took to the courts.  

“It’s his experience that counts. He obviously isn’t as fir as he was when he won the national tournament. So we just had to keep the ball in play. But often he did play some good shots,” Sahil Vora said.

Gaurav –Kunal in round three
(Asian Age, Mumbai : 10/06/2003)

Delhi’s Gaurav Nandrajog, India’s leading under-19 players, teamed up with Kunal Jani of Otters Club to score a narrow win over Sunil lalchandani and Noor Khan of MRC in the second round of the Rs. 45,000 prize money  

Tulip Star-ISP Doubles handicap squash Doubles Tournament at the squash courts of Hotel Tulip Star on Monday.   

After losing the first game 7-15, Nandrajog and Jani were a point away from defeat, trailing 3-14, before they began their fighback, with the Delhi player shifting gears and setting a fast tempo with his court craft and excellent retrievals. They won that game 15-14 and went on to win the third 15-12 and with it the match.  
 

Vora brother make final
(Article in Indian Express, Mumbai : 31/02/2003)

The Vora brothers from CCI-Sahil and Rushabh – will clash with Chandrakant Pawar and Mangesh Nadkarni of Otters Club in the final of the Khar Gymkhana – ISP handicap open doubles squash tournament, Organised by Khar Gym at their courts.  

In the semi-finals on Friday, while the Vora sibling dispatched off the pairing of Sanjay Pawar and Cyrus Apoo 15-11, 15-12, 9-15, 27-25; Pawar and Nadkarni got the better of Vijay Sonawane and Ashiwini Kukreja 5-15, 15-7, 15-9, 15-12.  

The elder of the Vora brothers, Sahil, not in the best of form due to a long study break, received much support from the younger sibling Rushabh, just back from a training stint with the SRFI in Chennai. While Sahil made good use his shots count, firing winners to make light of the large handicap they conceded to their opponents, Pawar and Apoo.  

After winning the first two games, 15-11, 15-12, the Vora brothers slackened the pace a bit and were caught by surprise as Apoo hit some good winners to lift the third. The fourth too was close, with the Vora dup fighting back from 11-14 down to level score at 14-14. Apoo then asked for a three-point extension, which proved their undoing as Sahil hit two good winners to win the game 17-15.  

Balwani, kapoor continue their winning run
(Article in Asian Age, Mumbai : 30/05/2003)

The mixed pair of Vishal Kapoor and Sachika Balwani of Otters Club continued their fine run, even as the hosts managed to keep their hopes alive in the Khar Gymkhana-ISP Handicap Open Doubles Squash Tournament with two teams advancing to the quarter-finals at the Khar Gymkhana courts, on Thursday. Under-13 national champion Vikram Malhotra’s father Shiv Malhotra and partner Rajesh Rajani to make the last right grade. 

Also advancing was the pair of Vijay Waghela and Jayesh Agarwal, who got the better of Tulip Star’s Sanjay Goyal and G.Dube 15-8, 10-15, 15-8. 

Vishal Kapoor, a former National champion now studying in Trinity College, US and the tiny Sachika Balwani of otters Club were pitted against the formidable Anurag Gill and Bharat Shah and much credit for the victory should go to Kapoor, who displayed tremendous reserves of stamina and great game sense as he guided along his nine-year-old partner.

46th Tournament Organised by ISP