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Nepal Open,
Kathmandu, Nepal
Pallikal
Powers To Historic Tour Title In Nepal
India's
Dipika Pallikal made her mark in squash history by winning the Women's
Nepal Open, the first Tour event to be staged in Nepal.
The $10,900
WISPA World Tour championship was held at the Nepal Squash Academy in
the country's capital Kathmandu - and attracted international players
from Pakistan, Switzerland, South Africa, New Zealand, and top seed Pallikal
from India.
Nepal's first
international squash tournament was inaugurated by Prachanda Man Shrestha,
CEO of Nepal Tourism Board, who said that the event had played a significant
role in promoting the sport as well as tourism in the country.
Amar Keshar
Simha,
President of the Nepal Squash Rackets Association, also delivered his welcome
note and shared good wishes with all the players.
Nepalese
interest was extinguished in the quarter-finals, with the two top seeds Pallikal
and Kylie Lindsay, the second seed from New Zealand, prevailing in the
semis to contest the expected final.
And Lindsay,
the world No47 from Matamata celebrating her fourth Tour final appearance this
year, took the opening game against her higher-ranked opponent.
But teenager
Pallikal, the 19-year-old world No36 from Chennai, battled back to beat the Kiwi
10-12, 11-2, 11-1, 11-5 to claim the second Tour title of her career.
Quarter-finals:
[1] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [8] Krishna Thapa (NEP) 11-0, 11-3,
11-2
[3] Gaby Schmohl (SUI) bt [6] Bhawana Sunuwar (NEP) 11-0, 11-3,
11-5
[4] Adel Weir-Nunan (RSA) bt [7] Chitij Gurung (NEP) 11-2, 11-4,
11-2
[2] Kylie Lindsay (NZL) bt [5] Zahab Khan (PAK) 11-1, 11-0, 11-0
Semi-finals:
[1] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [3] Gaby Schmohl (SUI) 11-9, 11-9,
11-2 (27m)
[2] Kylie Lindsay (NZL) bt [4] Adel Weir-Nunan (RSA) 11-1, 12-10,
11-6 (21m)
Final:
[1] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [2] Kylie Lindsay (NZL) 10-12, 11-2,
11-1, 11-5 |
