Crome Crumbles As Chinappa Takes Up Hyderabad Challenge

India's Joshna Chinappa became the only local player to win a place in the main draw of the women's Qatar Airways Challenge after overcoming an unwell Louise Crome in today's qualifying finals at the Secunderabad Club in Hyderabad.

The first round of the third biggest championship on the WISPA World Tour this year, with a prize fund of $79,550, gets underway tomorrow. The final rounds will be played on a new all-glass court (featuring a glass floor for the first time ever at a major event) erected in front of the Falaknuma Palace, an historic building set on a hill overlooking India's fifth largest metropolis.

"I've been up all night being ill," said New Zealander Crome to www.squashsite.co.uk . "I just couldn't hit the ball hard and my coordination had gone."

Chinappa, the Asian Junior Champion, was 9-1 9-0 ahead when the Kiwi conceded the match. The 19-year-old from Chennai now goes on to face another New Zealander, tenth seed Shelley Kitchen, in the main draw.

Pakistan's new national champion Carla Khan secured the swiftest win of the day, beating India's 15-year-old Surbhi Misra 9-1, 9-0, 9-0 in just 13 minutes. Khan was then handed the worst draw for a qualifier when she was lined up against Australia's Rachael Grinham, the former world No1 who was elevated to second seed after the withdrawal of world No1 Vanessa Atkinson.

Qualifying finals:
Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) bt Jenna Gates (ENG) 9-1, 3-9, 10-8, 9-1 (46m)
Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt Louise Crome (NZL) 9-1, 9-0 ret.
Runa Reta (CAN) bt Anwesha Reddy (IND) 9-0, 9-2, 9-0 (16m)
Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt Orla Noom (NED) 1-9, 10-8, 9-3, 9-5 (58m)
Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt Manuela Manetta (ITA) 9-2, 7-9, 9-6, 9-6 (77m)
Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Shivangi Paranjpe (IND) 9-0, 9-0, 9-1 (17m)
Tricia Chuah (MAS) bt Dipika Pallikal (IND) 6-9, 9-1, 5-9, 9-2, 9-2 (55m)
Carla Khan (PAK) bt Surbhi Misra (IND) 9-1, 9-0, 9-0 (13m)