15-year-old Pranay Merchant avenges last month's defeat against seasoned Pawar
15-year-old Pranay Merchant avenges last month's defeat against seasoned Pawar
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When young prodigy Pranay Merchant faced professional Sanjay Pawar last time in the second round of last month's Bombay Gymkhana state squash championship he stretched Pawar to the hilt before going down in the decider.
So, when the two took to the Cricket Club of India courts yesterday for a repeat showdown, this time in the men's second round of the 66th CCI-Western India Open Squash Tournament, the teenager was gunning for avenging last month's loss.
And he did so in style. Taking full advantage of the conditions Pranay trains at the CCI the 15-year-old made short work of Pawar, winning 11-5, 11-6, 11-6.
Pranay's elder sister Sanjna also had a good outing as she thrashed Bombay Gymkhana's Alekha Kulkarni 11-5, 11-6, 11-2.
Meanwhile, Yohan Pandole of Bombay Gymkhana rallied from a 0-2 deficit to beat Anshul Goyal of Otters Club 3-2 in the boys' under-15 category.
Other results
Men's second round: 1-Gaurav Nandrajog (Delhi) bt Ajaz Shaikh 11-2, 11-5, 11-8; 5/8-Rishad Pandole (CCI) bt Sanjay Salvi 11-8, 11-5, 11-6; Ravi Pandey bt Leblown Olivier (Bombay Gym) 11-5, 12-10, 11-8; Rohit More (CCI) bt Ganesh Kadam 11-3, 11-6, 11-8; 3/4-Vikas Jangra (Services) bt Waqar Pathan 11-3, 11-4, 11-2.