THE LEELA – ISP SQUASH CLASSIC 2007
(HANDICAP TEAM KNOCKOUT EVENT)
On Saturdays /
Sundays 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th May, 2007 at
Hotel The Leela, Sahar, Andheri (E), Mumbai
At the prize distribution function of the the
tournament held at Hotel The Leela
from left to right :
Sanjay Pawar,
Norden Sherpa,
Virendra Pawar
& Vicky Kalludi
(Winning The Leela 'B' Team members) along with
Mahendra Agarwal (Founder Director, ISP) &
Capt. Krishnan Nair (Chairman, The Leela)
NMSA Legends Stretched (Article in Asian Age, Mumbai : 22/5/2007)
Mumbai, May 21: NMSA Legends were pushed all the way by
Matunga Gymkhana in the second round of the Leela-ISP Squash Team Handicap
Knockout Classic 2007 held at the glass back squash courts of the Leela
Hotel, Sahar.
NMSA Legends’ I.P.Singh took on Chirag Shah of Matunga
Gymkhana in the first single game both players ran neck to neck. Shah held
the edge for most of the game but Singh kept his nerve to win the game 11-9.
shah made a spiritual comeback to take the next two games to cause quite a
stir.
Sonu Morani and Shashi Gupta then brought NMSA Legends
back on level terms with an easy 11-4, 11-8, win over Nikhil Gupta and
Manthan. Shashi Gupta then put on a fighting display to give NMSA a crucial
victory that puts them into the third round.
Pawar Lads Turn it on (Article in
Times of India, Mumbai : 28/5/2007)
MUMBAI:
It was a fitting finale for the
glassback courts at the leela. This was the last time the courts were to
host a major tournaments. After July 1, the courts are to be shifted
elsewhere. Now a spa will come up in its place and the courts will be
relocated to the business park next door, which will also have tennis. But
for now it was a time to celebrate one for last time on the courts that has
hosted some nerve-wracking matches.
And setting the stage on fire were The Leela ‘B’ pair
of Pawar – Ajay, Sanjay. The two sons living upto the name earned by their
father, Chandrakant over the years.
The duo helped The Leela ‘B’ to win the team title in
the Leela ISP Classic handicap squash event. Both won their singles inspite
of a stiff handicap, of sometimes 8 points, in a 11-point game.
NMSA, Hyatt
Regency In Semis (Article in
Free Press Journal, Mumbai : 27/5/2007)
NAVI Mumbai Sports Association (NMSA) their way to the
semi-finals clash against Hyatt Regency ‘A’ in The Leela – ISP Squash Team
Handicap Knockout Classic 2007 held at the glass back squash courts of The
Leela Hotel, Sahar on Saturday.
NMSA beat Mandapeshwar Credit Federation while Hyatt
Regency ‘A’ got pass hosts The Leela ‘ A’ Hyatt Regency ‘A’ and The Leela
‘A’ pushed each other to the limit.
Pawar
Sibilings Take The Leela ‘B’ To Victory (Article in
Free Press Journal, Mumbai : 28/5/2007)
Brothers, Ajay and Sanjay Pawar, won their singles
matches to lead The Leela ‘B’ to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Navi Mumbai
Sports Association (NMSA) ‘The Legend and lift The Leela –ISP Squash Team
Handicap Knockout Classic 2007 title at the glass back squash courts of The
Leela Hotel, Sahar on Sunday.
NMSA got past Hyatt Regency while The Leela ‘B’ got the
better of NMSA final. NMSA ‘B’ to squash any hopes all NMSA final. NMSA –
The Legends looked all set to exact revenge on The Leela ‘B’ when the
experienced I P Singh took the first game against Ajay Pawar. Despite a
steep handicap Pawar fought back to draw level with a 12-10 victory in the
third. All hopes of a good start for NMSA vanished as Pawar kept his
concentration firmly on the game. A determined Pawar took the third game
11-8 to ensure a 1-0 lead for the home team.
NMSA, who are known particularly for their strength in
doubles, then took on the pair of Sanjay Pawar and Vikram Kalludi. The pair
of Shashi Gupta and Sonu Mirani of NMSA were made to sweat it out on court.
Pawar and Kalludi refused to give into their more experienced opponents.
Gupta and Mirani took his first game but Pawar and Kalludi came back to win
the second 11-8. in the all-important decider Gupta and Mirani made their
experience count as they gave their team a great chance to script a comeback
victory.
The deciding singles saw Gupta play against Sanjay
Pawar. In a close first game the lead went back and forth but Pawar seemed
to have the legs to take him a game up with a 11-9 win. The second game saw
Gupta use all the skills he had to outplay the younger Pawar. Gupta drew
level with a 11-5 win. The deciding third game saw Gupta finding it
increasingly difficult to cope up as she failed to take a single point after
having a handicap of seven. Pawar won 11 points in a row to hand his team
the title as well as a purse of Rs. 10,000/-. NMSA –The Legends bagged Rs.
6,000/- for their efforts.
