Indian squash prodigy Anahat Singh clinched the girls under 15 squash title at the most prestigious British Junior open tournament on Sunday in Birmingham.
The 14-year-old defeated Sohaila Hazem of Egypt, 3-1 in the final.
The British Junior Open is held in January every year in the UK where all the best players from all over the world compete to win the coveted title. This year it was held after a Covid-induced gap of two years, from January 4 to 8.
In the quarter-finals, Anahat defeated Harleen Tan of Malaysia 3-0.
In the semifinal, she beat Malak Samir of Egypt 3-0.
In the final, despite the first set being closely contested, the Indian took the lead and won it 11-8.
However, the Egyptian brought the contest on level terms after winning the second set 11-8.
In the third set, Anahat’s resolve was put to the test. However, the youngster showed excellent poise to overcome a 6-1 deficit and win the set 11-7.
The Indian easily won the following set, 11-5, to capture her second British Junior Open championship.
Anahat defeated Malak Samir, another Egyptian, in the semi-final with ease, winning 11-5, 11-4, and 11-2 in just 18 minutes.
Earlier, Anahat won the girls under 11 title in 2019 and became runners-up in 2020 in the girls under 13 categories.
After winning the British Junior Open Anahat will now prepare for the Asian Junior team championships to be held in Chennai in February 2023.
(ANI)
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)