Chan & Khalifa Crowned Indian Challenger Champions

Two talented stars Amr Khaled Khalifa of Egypt and Hong Kong's Joey Chan wrapped up the PSA Indian Challenger No6 and WISPA Indian Challenger No4 squash titles, respectively, in the Government of India-sponsored events at the Indian Squash Courts Academy in Chennai.

In the closely-fought out final of the men's $10,000 PSA World Tour event between unseeded Khalifa and fourth seed Abdullah Al Mezayen of Kuwait, the winner was decided in the last two points of the fifth game.

At 11-all in the decider, Mezayen squandered a match ball, making two crucial errors to give away the win to Khalifa 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 7-11, 13-11 in a hard-fought 65-minute duel.

Khalifa, a 17-year-old from Cairo, beat two seeds en-route to the semi-finals where he eliminated favourite Stephen Coppinger, the world number 43 from South Africa.

The young Egyptian extended his impressive Tour record to three wins out of three final appearances.

In the final of the women's $8,000 WISPA World Tour event, second-seeded Chan exhibited total focus throughout her match against third seed Laura Siddall of England, winning 11-2, 11-6, 11-6 in 25 minutes.

Siddall earned one of the best wins of her career in the semi-finals where the 25-year-old from Yorkshire beat top-seeded Indian Joshna Chinappa 10-12, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5.

In the other semi, Chan ended the challenge of Siyoli Waters, the South African qualifier who upset local hope Dipika Pallikal, the fourth seed, in the first round.

The win sees 21-year-old Joey Chan win her long-awaited maiden title on the WISPA Tour.

Men's Final:
Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) bt [4] Abdullah Almezayen (KUW) 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 7-11, 13-11 (65m)

Women's Final:
[2] Joey Chan (HKG) bt [3] Lauren Siddall (ENG) 11-2, 11-6, 11-6 (25m)