India's Joshna Chinappa became the British Open (Under-19) Junior champion when she came from behind to beat unseeded South African Tenille Swartaz 3-9, 9-3 9-6, 9-3 in 44 minutes in the finals in Sheffield (London) on Thursday.
Joshna, a winner of the under-17 title in 2003 and finalist last year in the Under-19 catergory, came up trumps with her powerplay, allowing her rival to come to terms only briefly in the third game. Otherwise, she ruled the roost throughout the match.
The Indian was all at sea in the first game as the South African, who had accounted for top seed Charlie de Rycke to make her dream title clash today, threw back whatever Joshna returned.
From 6-2, De Rycke went on to lead 8-3 for the first game.
However, Joshna overtook well in time from the second game and never looked back.
Joshna was in tremendous form and excelled with long and short drops.
Joshna, considered the Queen of Indian squash, has given enough indication to remain at the top like Bhuvaneswari Kumari, whose name was synonymous with women's squash. She is the lone indian hope for putting the nation on the world scene in the world championship.
She created history in 2003, becoming the first Indian to reach the last eight in the world Junior championship that year.
