Pakistan Men, Indian Women crowd Medal Podium
April 6, 2004 © 2004 by Howard Harding

RESULTS: South Asian Federation (SAF) Games, Roshan Khan Squash Complex, Islamabad, Pakistan

Men's quarter-finals:
Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt Suresh Kumar Gurung (NEP) 9-1, 9-1, 9-1
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Saman Thilakarathna (SRI) 9-6, 9-0, 9-7
Ritwik Bhattacharya (IND) bt Anura Nisshanka Hewage (SRI) 9-6, 9-1, 9-0
Shahid Zaman (PAK) bt Hira Bahadur Thapa (NEP) 9-1, 9-3, 9-6
Semi-finals:
Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 9-4, 9-0, 9-1
Shahid Zaman (PAK) bt Ritwik Bhattacharya (IND) 9-2, 10-8, 9-4
Final:
Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt Shahid Zaman (PAK) 3-9, 9-6, 0-9, 9-4, 10-9

Women's quarter-finals:
Joshna Chinappa (IND) bye
Maria Toor Pakay (PAK) bt Tehani Nayanthara Guruge (SRI) 9-4, 9-2, 9-4
Muqaddas Ashraf (PAK) bt Nirasha Amithri Guruge (SRI) 10-8, 7-9, 9-0, 9-1
Mekhala Subedar (IND) bye
Semi-finals:
Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt Maria Toor Pakay (PAK) 9-6, 9-2, 9-0
Mekhala Subedar (IND) bt Muqaddas Ashraf (PAK) 9-1, 9-5, 9-0
Final:
Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt Mekhala Subedar (IND) 9-4, 8-10, 9-5, 9-1

Pakistan & India Share First SAF Games Spoils

Pakistan and India claimed the first two squash gold medals in the 2004 South Asian Federation (SAF) Games at the Roshan Khan Squash Complex in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The SAF Games is played once every two years and this year featured entrants from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan. Squash was making its second appearance in the event after making its debut in Peshawar, Pakistan, in 1989.

The men's individual final was an all-Pakistan affair after cousins Mansoor Zaman and Shahid Zaman beat Indians Saurav Ghosal and Ritwik Bhattacharya, respectively, in straight-game semi-finals.

In a dramatic final which totally gripped the near capacity crowd at the Roshan Khan Squash Complex, top seed Mansoor scraped through by the skin of his teeth! The world No19 from Peshawar twice came back from a game down, and in the fifth was 3-8 behind before fighting back to clinch the title 3-9 9-6 0-9 9-4 10-9.

The women's event was an all Indian encounter with Joshna Chinappa convincingly beating her compatriot Mekhala Subedar 9-4 8-10 9-5 9-1.

Earlier, Asian Coaching Director Major S Maniam conducted the first ever ASF Level 1 coaching course in Islamabad, featuring 65 coaches from all around Pakistan, and World Referee Fahim Gul, the Tournament Referee, hosted a referees' course which was attended by 45 referees from the region.

"The Games has been a well-conducted tournament, with squash gaining lots of exposure," said Major Maniam.

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