The Indian trio of Dipika Pallikal, Mahesh Mangaonkar and Kush Kumar marched into the final of British Junior Open after defeating the fancied Egyptians in the last four stage of the event in Sheffield,England. Dipika got the better of Egypt's Heba El Torky 11- 9,14-12, 9-11, 14-12 in the under-19 girls semi-final, while Mahesh defeated Mazen Gamal 7-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-4 in the boys under-15 category on Monday.
In the under-13 boys semi-final, Kush produced a stunning display to beat top seed Omar El Atlas 11-7, 11-7, 11-7. Both
Mahesh and Kush reached their first British Open final.
In a repeat of last year's under 17 final, Dipika started aggressively, hitting winners at will. After winning the first
two games, the India number two dropped her guard a bit and let her Egyptian rival claw back in the third game.
The second seeded Egyptian carried the momentum into the fourth game and went up 5-1. She increased her lead to 8-1
before Dipika came out of her comfort zone to tie the game at 9-9. Following a tense tie break, Dipika finished it off 14-12 to enter her second successive British Open final.
"I thought I played well, especially to come back in the fourth," said Dipika.
{{/usCountry}}"I thought I played well, especially to come back in the fourth," said Dipika.
{{/usCountry}}"I was thinking a lot about last year's final, and I knew that my coaches helped me improve on the physical and mental sides of my game, so I knew I had a good chance," added the Indian, who would be meeting Malaysia's Low Wee Wern in the final.
"It's great to be in a final again, I lost to Wee Wern six months back but I think I'm playing better now so it should be a good match."
Mahesh will meet England's Oliver Holland in the final while Kush will take on Amr Aboul Souad of Egypt in the title round.