Zaman & Chinappa Retain South Asian Games Titles

Pakistan's Mansoor Zaman and India's Joshna Chinappa successfully defended their squash titles in the South Asian Games at the Gymkhana Club in Sri Lanka's largest city Colombo.

Left-hander Zaman, the world No28 from Peshawar, faced 16-year-old compatriot Aamir Atlas Khan in the final after both players beat 3/4 seeds from India - Harinder Pal Sandhu and Gaurav Nandrajog, respectively - in the semi-finals.

Second seed Khan shocked his more experienced top-seeded opponent by taking a 2/1 lead in the final - but Zaman regained his composure to win 9-5, 7-9, 4-9, 9-2, 9-0 to retain the title he won two years ago in Islamabad, in his home country.

In the women's final, 19-year-old Joshna Chinappa from Chennai took on 14-year-old rising star Dipika Pallikal, also from Chennai. The two top-seeded Indians had overcome their anticipated opponents - Sri Lankan 3/4 seeds, sisters Tehani Guruge and Nirasha Guruge - in the previous round.

Favourite Chinappa was too strong for Pallikal in the final, winning 9-6, 9-6, 9-1.

Men's final:
[1] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt [2] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) 9-5, 7-9, 4-9, 9-2, 9-0

Women's final:
[1] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt [2] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 9-6, 9-6, 9-1