New champions crowned in Coffs Harbour
Published Mon 21 Aug 2023
Malaysia’s Addeen Idrakie and India’s Tanvi Khanna have emerged victorious from the 2023 Costa North Coast Open in Coffs Harbour with impressive victories in Sunday’s final.
For Idrakie it was a case of third time lucky having been beaten in the 2019 final by Japan’s Ryosei Kobayashi and falling one match short again in 2022 when Victoria’s Rex Hedrick took the title.
The world number 69 was the class act from start to finish, dropping just one of 13 games throughout the tournament which included a 3-0 victory over India’s Velavan Senthilkumarin the final.
“Happy to win in the final in three today,” said Idrakie. “Glad the way I managed to keep discipline on my game plan.”
Khanna’s victory in the women’s event came a day after the tournament was denied an all-Australian final in the semis.
South Australia’s Alex Haydon held a 2-1 advantage over Khanna, however the Indian stormed back to claim victory and earn a place in the decider.
Her opponent in the final was Chan Yiwen, with Malaysia’s world number 78 taking four games to defeat Australian No.1 Jess Turnbull.
On Sunday, Yiwen claimed the opening game, however Khanna gained control with 12-10 wins in the second and third, going on to claim the fourth and the title.
“It’s my first PSA title and I’ve had some of the biggest wins I’ve had here so far, so really happy,” said Khanna who defeated the second and sixth seeds just to make the final.
Australian Squash Tour
While Rhys Dowling and Dylan Molinaro both bowed out in the round of 16, they moved closer to the Australian Squash Tour lead held by 2023 national champion Ryan Cuskelly.
Joseph White was the big mover in the men’s competition, playing his opening event of the Tour and moving straight into tenth place overall courtesy of a quarter-final appearance.
Alex Haydon was unable to close down Jess Turnbull’s lead in the women’s Tour, their matching semi-final results extending their advantage over third-placed Sarah Cardwell, who Haydon defeated in their quarter-final at Coffs.
