Joshna Chinnappa - India's No. 1, PB WR # 28 in June 2010

[mugu]

Thanks Kumar for seconding BS's proposal. I do need the money. But not for my grandchildren. I need it now!

[BSharma]

Joshna was supposed to play in the qualifying tournament (SHEIKHA AL SAAD KUWAIT OPEN) Kuwait yesterday but I am not sure if she played or not. Her match was against the third seed Tania Bailey of England and the draw shows Bailey advancing to the second round without the match score. Bailey went on to defeat 8th seed ElWeleily of Egypt 9/2 9/3 9/1
to advance into the main draw.

[BSharma]

Thanks for alerting us to a nice newspaper article about Joshna. Joshna and the other talented Indian squash players deserve to get as much publicity as they can get. Our players are doing a terrific job.

[BSharma]

How do you pass up a sports scholarship from Harvard for a BA degree in Lit from Ethiraj college? Six years or more from now, her BA degree from Ethiraj college, sorry to say, will take her will no where. Hope I am mistaken!

Joshna has too much talent to spend 4 years playing for Harvard University team, which will take her no where in squash. If she wants to make it big in pro-squash, she must start playing on the Tour.

She can get an education at Harvard or become a top women's squash player. I do not think that both can occur concurrently. She has chosen pro-tour over Harvard and she probably knows what she is doing and has received good advice.

Good luck Joshna. You get only one chance in life. Seize it and run with it.

[Sandeep]

Yes, she did a very good thing by choosing squash. That is the confidence the girl has that she can succeed. That is what is needed. Hope she will make it big. How is money in squash? Is it like women's billiards where winner won some 300 pounds or is it better?

[BSharma]

Money on the pro-tour of squash is pathetic. The top 5 or 10 players can make decent money but the rest make very little money.

[jaydeep]

Yes Sandeep sponsorship issue hamper all other sports ... And players really put from their pocket to make progress without any help from their national federations.

Jaydeep.

[BSharma]

I am happy that Joshna is getting some press coverage in India.

Joshna is in the last year of playing in the juniors, and is the current world junior #1. She has played in only a few senior events this year and her WISPA ranking is 66. Her goal is to be in the top 30 by the end of 2005 and to be in the top 10 by 2008.

Good luck Joshna. You can do it.

Joshna sets bar high, eyes top 30 in 2005

[BSharma]

Joshna's current WISPA ranking is 63. This is based on her playing in only 5 events. The players ranked in the top 40 have played in more than 10 tournaments.

She is ranked #4 in WISPA in the rising star category. The four players ranked above her have played in twice as many tournaments.

She is ranked #21 in the under 23 category.

[jaydeep]

Well done Joshna ... Improvement she is showing last few years is remarkable ... She will achieve her goal of Top 10 players much more earlier than what she modestly suggested ... Go Joshna.

Jaydeep.

[PKBasu]

Congratulations (very belatedly) to Joshna for winning the 2005 British Open junior title. She definitely has a very bright future, and it was gutsy of her to refuse the Harvard sports scholarship to try and attempt a pro career in squash. I hope her gamble pays off, and she is supported by the Indian establishment on her way to the top.

[BSharma]

The Women's World Junior Squash Championships will take place in Herentals, Belgium from 21-26 July, 2005. Joshna is seeded #1 and is the only Indian in the field.

The full first round draw is:

[1] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bye
Roisin Brennan (IRL) v Jackie Moss (CAN)
[17/32] Kristen Lange (USA) bye
Skye Millar (AUS) v Milou van der Heijden (NED)
[9/16] Rachel Willmott (ENG) bye
Julie de Bellefroid (BEL) v Ikuko Tao (JPN)
[17/32] Pamela Hathway (GER) v Joanna Morgan (SCO)
Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) v Emily Paton (CAN)
[5/8] Lina El Tannir (EGY) bye
Toby Eyre (USA) v Gemma Davies (WAL)
[17/32] Sary Carmen Diaz (MEX) v Milnay Louw (RSA)
Emma Chorley (ENG) v Jasmin Ballmann (SUI)
[9/16] Peta Hughes (AUS) bye
Esther Jongerden (NED) v Shin Nga Leung (HKG)
[17/32] Kerry Wickett (NZL) v Zulhijjah Azan (MAS)
Marjory Fosse (FRA) v Tiia Knuutila (FIN)
[3] Charlie de Rycke (BEL) bye
Nabilla Ariffin (MAS) v Alexandra Clark (SCO)
[17/32] Joey Chan (HKG) v Kaitlin Sennatt (USA)
Aisling O'Connor (IRL) v Eve Rixen (GER)
[9/16] Neha Kumar (CAN) bye
Heba Ahmed (EGY) v Jackie Laurenson (NZL)
[17/32] Fiona Moverley (ENG) v Seraina Kazamia (SUI)
Kimberley Bessell (AUS) v Vuokko Vahatalo (FIN)
[5/8] Sara Badr (EGY) bye
Natalie Pritchard (WAL) v Yuki Sakai (JPN)
[17/32] Lisa Kho (NED) v Lotte Eriksen (NOR)
Amanda Siebert (USA) v Nikki Sequeira (CAN)
[9/16] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bye
Kathryn Blake (RSA) v Leonie Holt (ENG)
[17/32] Soraya Renai (FRA) v Moa Shi Hui (SIN)
Imelda Salazar (MEX) v Sarah Matthews (MAS)
Suzannah King (ENG) v Jennifer Gemmell (CAN)
[17/32] Joelle King (NZL) v Nicole Chua (SIN)
Emi Takemoto (JPN) v Emery Maine (USA)
[9/16] Nehal Yehia (EGY) bye
Odile Wavreille (BEL) v Victoria Lust (ENG)
[17/32] Wee Wern Low (MAS) v Nathalie Plain (SUI)
Carmen Nujen (NED) v Elizabeth Mercado (MEX)
[5/8] Annie Au (HKG) bye
Vanessa Pickerd (AUS) v Rachel Green (WAL)
[17/32] Ashley Clackson (CAN) v Kirsty Craig (SCO)
Britt Hebden (USA) v Toke Vanwesemael (BEL)
[9/16] Camille Serme (FRA) bye
Midori Saji (JPN) v Louise Clark (ENG)
[17/32] Sandra Krueger (GER) v Niamh Brennan (IRL)
Jessica Gillett (AUS) v Saara Valtola (FIN)
[4] Tenille Swartz (RSA) bye
Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) v Liesbeth Voortmans (BEL)
[17/32] Vanessa Isola (SUI) v Logan Greer (USA)
Pamela Chua (SIN) v Maren Myhre (NOR)
[9/16] Sally Looi (MAS) bye
Mary-Ann Boden (RSA) v Victoria Bell (ENG)
[17/32] Lucie Fialova (CZE) v Alia Magdy Balbaa (EGY)
Laura Gemmell (CAN) v Sina Wall (GER)
[5/8] Lily Lorentzen (USA) bye
Ciara Moloney (IRL) v Erica Olmstead (CAN)
[17/32] Deon Saffery (ENG) v Laura Aalto-Setala (FIN)
Amanda Cranston (NZL) v Lisa Aitken (SCO)
[9/16] Ka Kei Chiu (HKG) bye
Jessica Bevan (WAL) v Maxine Windelberg (MRI)
[17/32] Stephanie Edmison (CAN) bye
Jackeline Perez (MEX) v Luchisise de Lavison (FRA)
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bye

[jaydeep]

Goodluck Joshna!!!

Jaydeep.