OAKLAND AT FREMONT-FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2007

By Shashin Shodhan

Oakland ace Freddie Gabriel is a last-minute cancellation as Oakland team captain Kingston Gee receives a message from Gabriel that he will not be able to make the match.  Fremont ace Shashin Shodhan is as well as while warming up, he has minor pain in his right knee possibly due to the carpet floor which does not provide any give when moving.  Shodhan will begin training for the 2008 Olympics in foreign lands soon and wants to make sure any minor pain does not turn into anything more serious.  He has started weight-training for his legs to help prevent further knee injuries.  Oakland presents the team of Avishy Schmidt, Parry Husbands, and Kingston Gee.  Fremont presents the lineup of Nash Darukhanawalla, Ankur Patel, and Praful Bhaidasna.

Parry Husbands (Oakland) vs Nash Darukhanawalla (Fremont)

Darukhanawalla is not aggressive this match and Husbands wins in four games.  Darukhanawalla is primarily blocking in the only game he wins but blocks much harder and more consistently that game.  In the critical third game, Husbands is up 6-4 at which point he gets two edge balls in a row and his serves give Darukhanawalla problems.  With luck and skill level in favor of Husbands, he emerges the victor to put Oakland ahead 1-0.

DESPITE HIS POWERFUL FOREHAND, NASH DARUKHANAWALLA HAS YET TO WIN A SINGLES MATCH THIS SEASON. (Photo by Kingston Gee)

Avishy Schmidt (Oakland) vs Praful Bhaidasna (Fremont)

In the opener, Bhaidasna is on fire and Schmidt is caught off-guard and plays carelessly, often serving long into the lefty Bhaidasna's forehand.  The second game is tied 7-7 when Bhaidasna makes the tactical error of playing into Schmidt's backhand, which is his stronger wing.  Schmidt wins the second 11-7.  Schmidt and Bhaidasna each win one of the next two games as both players take turns attacking and blocking to send the match to the deciding fifth game.  Bhaidasna is ahead 6-0 and 8-2 in the fifth game and closing in on the best win of his career.  However, it is soon 8-8 but Bhaidasna does get a match point at 10-9 but Schmidt wins the match 12-10 in the fifth.  Schmidt thinks Bhaidasna tightened up.

PRAFUL BHAIDASNA NEARLY RECORDS THE BEST WIN OF HIS CAREER. (Photo by Kingston Gee)

Kingston Gee (Oakland) vs Ankur Patel (Fremont)

Patel dominates this match in all aspects of the game.  Patel is up 2-0, 10-5 and starts using his backhand loop which he has been working on with his coach and teammate Shashin Shodhan.  However, Patel misses his attempts at this point and Gee closes to 10-9 but falls down during the next point to give Patel a 3-0 victory.  Patel is happy to have won his first match this league season.  Schmidt, who was impressed with Bhaidasna's game earlier, shouted "how come Fremont has only one win?!" when Patel hit a forehand winner during his win over Gee.  Oakland is now up 2-1.

ANKUR PATEL RECORDS HIS FIRST SINGLES WIN OF THE LEAGUE SEASON. (Photo by Jack Chen)

Avishy Schmidt/Parry Husbands (Oakland) vs Nash Darukhanawalla/Ankur Patel (Fremont)

Fremont opens the match with a 8-6 lead in the first game.  However, Oakland wins 5 of the next 6 points to take the first 11-9.  Oakland dominates the serve and receive to go up 6-1 in the second and wins 11-6.  The third game is another close match like the first but Oakland pulls out another 11-9 win.  Despite losing 3-0, Darukhanawalla and Patel are starting to play doubles well together.  Oakland is now up 3-1 and is a match from victory.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: NASH DARUKHANAWALLA, ANKUR PATEL, AND SHASHIN SHODHAN DISCUSS STRATEGY. (Photo by Kingston Gee)

Parry Husbands (Oakland) vs Praful Bhaidasna (Fremont)

Bhaidasna starts with a 9-6 lead in the opener and like against Schmidt, tightens up and loses 5 straight points.  Bhaidasna plays an error-filled second game and with a big lead, Husbands starts swinging and hits a good number of winners to route Bhaidasna with a 11-2 win in the second.  Husbands wins the third 11-8 and Oakland wins this league match 4-1.

PARRY HUSBANDS HELPS OAKLAND STAY UNBEATEN WITH TWO SINGLES WINS AND A DOUBLES WIN. (Photo by Kingston Gee)