Matanatabu in top form
BACK from a two-year hiatus, Marika Matanatabu showed no signs of rustiness as he claimed the Jack’s of Fiji Nadi Open Squash Championship A Grade title at the Nadi Sports and Social Club on Saturday evening.
Matanatabu started off with a bang in the championship defeating Bhavin Khatri in three straight sets 11-5, 11-8, 11-1.
Ranked number eight, Matanatabu claimed his biggest scalp in the second round defeating Fiji number one Romit Meghji 3-2 in a five set thriller which lasted 33 minutes.
Matanatabu won the first two sets 11-7, 11-5 before Meghji staged a comeback to take the next two sets 11-3, 11-7 to tie the fixture.
The decider went down to the wire with Matanatabu edging out Meghji 12-10.
In the semi-final, Matanatabu beat Andre Roxbrugh 3-1 (4-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-3) while Daniel Fong beat Sailesh Pala 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 13-11) to set up a Lautoka versus Nadi final.
Matanatabu from the Northern Club showed his class to defeat home town favourite Fong in straight sets 11-8, 112, 11-8.
In the B grade final, Nathan Kumar beat Mahima Goonesekera 3-1 (4-11, 11-5, 11-9, 12-10), in the C Grade final, Finau Gonerogo defeated Byron Fatiaki 3-0 (11-7, 1210, 11-2) while Atul Mangal took out the novice title beating Adarsh Kaylash Nandan 3-2 (11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 6-11, 11-7).
Squash Fiji vice-president Blair Macaskill said with squash being ruled out of the 2021 Pacific Mini Games and the 2023 Pacific Games, the 2021 Oceania Championship was their only major international commitment for the moment.
Macaskill said they had a number of initiatives running, one of which was the junior program sponsored by McDonald’s Fiji.
“The idea is to encourage kids take up the sport,” he said.
“Get in the young ones and develop them right from six years old through their teenage.
“Squash is a minority sport so we need to tap in and get more participation.
“We had a business house competition recently where 14 teams participated.
“About 140 players competed in the competition and many of them were new to squash.
“The idea is to promote the squash and get the players interested to take it up as their main sport.”