Anaka, Kush carry India’s hopes

Riding on their best-ever medal haul in the Asian Junior Squash Championships, Indian squash players have now set their sights on the World Junior Championships. The Indian junior players returned home with nine medals from the 19th Asian Junior tourney held at Kish Island, Iran, last month including two gold medals by Anaka Alankamony and Kush Kumar and a silver by Dev Vazarani. While Alankamony retained her girls under-19 Asian crown, becoming the first Indian to win back-to-back titles, Kush Kumar took home his first Asian title. Alankamony, Aparajitha Balamurukan, Sachika Ingle, Harshit Kaur Jawanda and Lakshya Raghavendra comprise the women’s contingent. Junior national champion Mahesh Mangaonkar, Vivek Pinodia, Deepak Mishra, Abhishek Pradhan, Vrishab Kotian and Kush form the men’s squad. Mahesh, Kush, Abhishek and Vrishab will be staying back for the team championship. Two-time Asian champion Alankamony is India’s best bet in the girls’ category. Her first real test would be in the quarterfinals where she would clash against world number 31 Egyptian Yathreb Adel. If she manages to get past Adel, a strong opponent in second seed Emily Whitlock of England awaits her in the semifinals.