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Maharashtra Open organisers amend tournament regulations to help top seed mangaonkar prepare for upcoming nationals

Organisers of the ongoing 34th Bombay Gymkhana Maharashtra Open Squash Championship have amended the tournament's rules to help Junior World No 6 Mahesh Mangaonkar prepare for the upcoming Junior National Open Squash Championship (October 21-25) in Indore.

The 15-year-old under-17 and under-19 top seed has been permitted to participate in three categories here U-17, U-19 and Men's despite the entry form clearly stating that a participant cannot participate in more than two categories.

Tournament organiser Raj Arora justified the alteration. "There have been very few tournaments this year. And though Mahesh will have a tough final in the U-19 category, the U-17 final should be a walk in the park for him.
 
So, we felt that placing him in the Men's draw will give him four to five good matches and this will prepare him well for the nationals." Arora said. 




Mangaonkar is obviously happy with the changes.

"I was very happy when I got to know I've been included in the Men's draw. It's a great opportunity for me to play against top notch players and vital from the experience point of view too," said Mangaonkar, who is already making the most of the opportunity.  Having already entered the U-17 and U-19 semi-finals, he was more than happy to make it to the quarter-finals of the men's category after beating Laxman Joshi 11-3, 11-5 and 11-3 in yesterday's pre-quarter-final.

Mangaonkar is particularly excited at the prospect of facing seasoned pro Sourav Ghoshal in the quarter-final.