MATANITOBUA IN THE FINAL
DEFENDING champion Marika Matanatabu displayed his class as Fiji’s top player after qualifying for the Jack’s of Fiji Nadi Open Squash Championship A Grade final at the Nadi Sports and Social Club (NSSC) this afternoon.
After disposing eighth seed Fonmanu Rigamoto in straight sets on Friday, Matanatabu continued his impressive form to down Andrew McGoon in straight sets again in the semi-final yesterday.
He won 11-4, 11-5, 11-4.
In the other semi-final fixture, Daniel Fong defeated Andre Roxburgh 12-10, 12-10, 11-1.
NSSC secretary/manager Shamal Kumar said this was the second squash tournament that they were hosting sponsored by Jack’s of Fiji. Kumar said the number of participants had increased this year despite the current pandemic situation.
“Last year we started the event with about 60 players and the number increased to 76 this year,” he said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic hindered all the sporting activities at the club. The club had to close down for a few months. Then with the easing of the restrictions the training sessions started slowly but there were no tournaments.
“Now we have opened the facility and the players have returned to take up the sport of squash, swimming, tennis, lawn bowls, snooker and train at the gymnasium.
“The aim is to make the Fiji Squash Open Championship bigger and better year as things improve from the current situation.”
Results: (A Grade) Marika Matanatabu def Fonmanu 11-3, 11-1, 11-4; Andrew McGoon def Chamath Karunaratne 1210, 11-8, 11-7; Andre Roxburgh def Alison Yee 5-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-3.
(B Grade) Tino Bryant def Sefeti Rigamoto 8-11, 11-6, 12-14, 11-8, 11-6; Viasi Samisoni def Blair Macaskill 11-6, 11-8, 13-15, 11-6; Jack Fong def Satya Nadan 11-4, 11-5, 11-7; Gocean Mai def Raj Sant 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 3-11, 11-8;
(C Grade) Finau Glonerogo def Jason Pillay 11-8, 11-9, 11-8; Hong Laing Yu def Navneet Nair 9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-5; Saivesh Mudaliar def Masao Soaki 11-2, 11-6, 11-7; Romil Prakash def Babu Singh 8-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-4; Aarlon Wong def Sera Speed 11-2, 11-7, 11-6; Bill Navunidakua def Koo Daewoo 11-4, 7-11, 11-3, 15-13; Jeremy Ahkee def Peni Baro 11-3, 11-6, 11-7; Robyn Samisoni def Asinate McGoon 11-6, 10-12, 13-11, 11-9; Bryan
Nair def Pramod Rajakarua 11-7, 11-13, 13-11, 11-6; Dominique Frankenne def Joseph Gibson 10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 11-7; Isoa Tokalautawa def Alvin Singh 11-0, 11-0, 11-0;