KUMAR SISTERS SNARE GOLD AT CANADIAN JUNIOR SQUASH OPEN
NEWMARKET, Ont.-- Ruchika Kumar and her younger sister Neha Kumar of Oakville, Ont., each won gold medals Sunday to conclude the four-day Canadian junior open squash tournament at the Glenway Country Club. In the girls' under-19 division, Ruchika Kumar, seeded third, defeated Nicolette Fermandes of Guyana 9-7, 0-9, 9-0, 9-4 for her first career win at the tournament. Amy Gross of the U.S., defeated top-seed Jacqui Inward of Peterborough, Ont., in the bronze medal match.

"This is definitely the highlight of my career," said Kumar, 16, who started to play squash as a youngster while growing up in Hong Kong. "It took me awhile to get into the match but my coach convinced me after the second game that I could do it, I could beat her."

In the girls' under-15, top-seeded Neha Kumar, 12, won a hard-fought all-Canadian final over Lauren Polonich of Calgary 9-7 10-8, 10-9. Alisha Turner of Milton, Ont., beat Genevieve Lessard of Montreal for the bronze.

"My dream is to one day play my sister in a major final," said Neha Kumar. "And I would hopefully win . Right now we train together. Her level of play is still higher than mine."

In boys competition, the individual star was the very talented Colin West of Toronto. Arturo Salazar of Mexico beat the 12-year-old West in the boys under-13 final 3-2. West's matches usually drew the largest crowds of the tournament and were tight battles. Salazar's twin brother Cesar took third spot.

"I was a little tired because I played his brother yesterday which went four games," said West, a grade seven student. "But overall I'm happy with the way I played." In girls' under-17, Jennifer Blumberg of Victoria defeated Elizabeth France of Calgary 3-0 while Ashley Clackson of Victoria took the bronze.

In girls' under-13, Katy Brewster of the U.S. beat her compatriot Christina Matthias for the gold while Rebecca Hazel of Toronto took the bronze. In boys' under-19, Jorge Baltazar of Mexico defeated Callum O'Brien of New Zealand 3-0 for the championship and Brendon Abercrombie of Prince-George, B.C., won the bronze. In boys' under-17, Jhie Gough of Australia defeated Mauricio Sanchez of Mexico in the final 3-1. Bronze went to Brad Jones of Conestoga, Ont.

In boys' under-15 Ben Reece of Australia beat Michael Auer of Calgary 3-1 and the bronze went to Tyler Maulsby of the U.S.

Sunday's results at the Canadian junior open squash tournament at the Glenway Country Club in Newmarket, Ont.
BOYS
Under-19
Gold medal match: Jorge Baltazar, Mexico def. Callum O'Brien, New Zealand, 3-0.
Bronze medal match: Brendon Abercrombie, Prince George, B.C., def. Michael Blumberg, Victoria, 3-1.

Under-17 Gold: Jhie Gough, Australia def. Mauricio Sanchez, Mexico, 3-1.
Bronze: Brad Jones, Conestoga, Ont., def. Jose Becerill, Mexico, 3-0.

Under-15 Gold: Ben Reece, Australia def. Michael Auer, Calgary, 3-1.
Bronze: Tyler Maulsby, U.S., def. Ryan Osbourne, Toronto, 3-1.

Under-13 Gold: Arturo Salazar, Mexico def. Colin West, Toronto, 3-2. Bronze: Cesar Salazar, Mexico def. Dave Glass, Winnipeg, 3-1.

GIRLS Under-19 Gold: Ruchika Kumar, Oakville, Ont., def. Nicolette Fernandes, Guyana, 3-1. Bronze: Amy Gross, U.S., def. Jacqui Inward, Peterborough, Ont., 3-2.

Under-17 Gold: Jennifer Blumberg, Victoria, def. Elizabeth France, Calgary 3-0. Bronze: Ashley Clackson, Victoria def. Kristie Tyrell, Victoria, 3-2.

Under-15 Gold: Neha Kumar, Oakville, Ont., def. Lauren Polonich, Calgary, 3-0.
Bronze: Alisha Turner, Milton, Ont. def. Genevieve Lessard, Montreal, 3-2.

Under-13 Gold: Katy Brewster, U.S., def. Christina Matthias, U.S., 3-0.
Bronze: Rebecca Hazell, Toronto def. Carly Hong, Toronto, 3-0.

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