Pic Caption: Mr Sumeet Rewari (left), Championship Director and Mr Vijay Paranjpe (right), Organizing Chairman and Hon. Secretary Squash, Bombay Gymkhana at a press meet and greet to announce the 42nd Maharashtra State Men’s & Women’s Squash Tournament and the 9th Indian Junior Open Squash Tournament, to be hosted by the Bombay Gymkhana at their glass-back squash courts. Over Rs 12 lakh in prize money will be stake for the 42nd Maharashtra State Men’s & Women’s Squash Tournament and the 9th Indian Junior Open Squash Tournament, to be hosted by the Bombay Gymkhana at their glass-back squash courts , it was announced at a press conference at their premises on Monday.
The Maharashtra State championship, which is one of the longest running squash tournaments, in the country will be conducted from31st August to 3rd September, 2017. The Junior event, which has been accorded the status of an Asian Squash Federation Platinum tournament and a 5-Star tournament on the Indian Junior squash circuit, will be organised from 2nd September to 6th September, 2017
Both the events will be organised under aegis of SRFI and Maharashtra Squash Rackets Association and powered by JSW. Associate Sponsors for the event include Indospace, K Raheja Group,Shoppers Stop,Ellora Project Consultants Pvt Ltd ,Myntra , Cipla Imunno Booster and Nykaa.
The Championship Director, Sumeet Rewari informed media persons that over 450 entries have been received for the Indian Junior Open. “The Indian Junior Open is the largest International junior event to be conducted in India. The event has attracted more than 20 foreign participants. There are 16 juniors from Malasiya, five-six from Hong Kong, two from Czechoslovakia and one from Sri Lanka, who have confirmed their participation,” said Rewari.
“The total prize money for this tournament is Rs 6.48 lakh and there will equal prize money for both boys and girls winners,” he further added.
Hong Kong players Chan Chi Ho and Ho Ka Hei are the number one and two seeds respectively in the Boy's U-19 event, while in the girl's event, the top seeding is handed to India's Sanika Choudhari and her compatriot Ashita Pranaya Bhengra is seeded second.
The Maharashtra State tournament, will consist of competitions in seven different categories – Men’s, Women’s, Men’s Over 35, Men’s Over 45, Men’s Over 55 and Professionals.
The top seed in the men’s event is former National Champion Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, the current Indian No. 3, while Englishman Robert Downer is seeded second. Aditya Jagtap of Maharashtra and Ravi Dixit of Haryana are the joint 3-4 seeds.
In the women’s draw, Uttar Pradesh’s Sachika Ingale has been given the top billing while the second seed is Maharashtra’s Urwashi Joshi. The joint 3-4 seeds are Ashita Pranaya Bhengra of Tamil Nadu and Sachika Balvani of Maharashtra.
The State championship offers a total prize-money fund of Rs 5,84,000. The winner of the men’s event stands to become richer by Rs 1,30,000, while the runner-up will get Rs 75,000. The women’s will receive Rs 40,000 and the runner-up Rs 25,000.
Vijay Paranjpe, is the Organising Chairman, the Championship Director is Sumeet Rewari and the Championship Administrator is Manan Mashruwala.
Seeding list:
Maharashtra State: Men: 1. Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (TN), 2. Robert Downer (Eng), 3-4. Aditya Jagtap (Mah), Ravi Dixit (Haryana); 5-8: Abhishek Agarwal (Mah), Gaurav Nandrajog (Del), Sandeep Jangra (Ser), Vikas Jangra (Del).
Women: 1. Sachika Ingale (UP), 2. Urwashi Joshi (Mah), 3-4. Ashita Pranaya Bhengra (TN), Sachika Balvani (Mah); 5-8. Oma Choudhary (Raj), Pranjali Sharma (Mah), Riya Sisodia (Del) , Sarah Vethekar (Mah).
Indian Junior Open : Boys’ U-19: 1. Chan Chi Ho (Hong Kong), 2. Ho Ka Hei (Hong Kong), 3-4. Rahul Baitha (Ind), Vikas Mehra (Ind); 5-8. Aryan Parekh (Ind), Rutvik Rau (Ind), Shivam Bansal (Ind), Simranjit Singh (Ind).
Girls’ U-19: 1. Sanika Choudhari (Ind), 2. Ashita Pranaya Bhengra (Ind), 3-4. Aaradhana Kasturiraj (Ind), Diya Sanghi (Ind); 5-8. Kadambari Pawar(Ind), Mira Kamat (USA), Pranjali Sharma(Ind), Simran Nagpal (Ind).
Prize Money Break up – Maharashtra State Championship
Men -– Winner: Rs 1,30,000; Runner-up: Rs 75,000; 3rd place: Rs 40,000; 4th place: Rs 35,000.
Women -– Winner Rs 40,000; Runner-up: Rs 25,000; 3rd place: Rs 10,000; 4th place: Rs 7,500.