The KK Sharma Memorial UP State Close Squash Racket Championship concluded on a high note this Sunday at TSH in Kanpur, with two young athletes from Dhampur emerging as the undisputed stars of the tournament. Raghav Vashishth and Fabia Nafees each secured remarkable double victories, dominating their respective categories.
Raghav Vashishth's Stunning Double Triumph
Raghav Vashishth showcased exceptional skill and determination by clinching titles in both the Under-19 boys' and the men's open categories. His path to the men's crown was particularly impressive, as he staged a significant upset in the final. Raghav outplayed the experienced senior player Uday Bharti in a hard-fought five-game thriller, winning 3-2. Earlier, in the Under-19 boys' final, he displayed controlled aggression to defeat Ankit Patel of Prayagraj with a score of 3-1.
Fabia Nafees' Dominant Performance
Mirroring Raghav's success, Fabia Nafees put on a commanding display to win two championships. She proved unstoppable in both the Under-17 girls' and the women's finals. Fabia first swept past her city mate Aroma with a decisive 3-0 victory to claim the U-17 title. She then replicated this dominant performance in the women's final, overpowering another fellow Dhampur player, Khushboo, by an identical 3-0 margin.
Other Notable Champions at the Tournament
While Raghav and Fabia stole the spotlight, several other young talents also earned championship glory in Kanpur. The list of other winners includes:
- Under-11 Boys: Agam Tomar (Dhampur) beat Adarsh Prajapati (Varanasi) 3-0.
- Under-13 Boys: Kavya Shankar (Dhampur) defeated Rohan Saini (Dhampur) 3-0.
- Under-15 Boys: Arush Sharma triumphed over Madhur Anand (Prayagraj) 3-1.
- Under-17 Boys: Abhinav Tomar (Dhampur) secured a straight-games win against Arnav Khandelwal (Noida) 3-0.
The prize distribution ceremony was graced by chief guest Archana, assistant manager of the UP Industrial department, who honored the winners and runners-up. Susheel Sharma, President of the Kanpur Squash Association, delivered the vote of thanks, with association secretary Vinay Pandey also present for the occasion. The championship highlighted the rising depth of squash talent in Uttar Pradesh, with Dhampur emerging as a particular hub of excellence.
