Category: Squash

by Abhishek Shukla

Saurav Ghosal fell at the hands of Mohamed Elshorbagy at US Open

Philadelphia: Top ranked Indian, Saurav Ghosal’s tenure ended in the US Open 2018, a PSA world tour platinum event, in the third round on Tuesday.

Pitted against the top seed and highly rated Egyptian Mohamed Elshorbagy, the Indian did put up some resistance but in the end that did not help. The Egyptian won 11-5, 16-14, 11-9 to enter the quarterfinal.

The other Indian in the fray, Joshna Chinappa, the 16th seed in the women’s section awaits herthird round match against eighth seeded Sarah Jane Perry, later tonight.

by Abhishek Shukla

Saurav and Joshna have moved into the third round in the Prestigious US Open squash

Philadelphia: Indian stars Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa have moved into round three in the prestigious US Open 2018, a PSA world tour platinum event being held here. However Dipika Pallikal Karthik fell in the second round, losing to Egyptian third seed Nour El Tayeb in stright games 11-6, 11-5, 11-9.

Where Saurav and Joshna began their campaign from round two, Dipika had an earlier start. She was stretched to five games by a Canadian Danielle Letourneau before winning 11-6, 11-13, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4. Joshna, who is seeded 16, also had a tough match in her opener against Julianne Courtice of England. Joshna won 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 12-10,11-3. In comparison Saurav had a smoother ride in the men’s section. The Indian beat Tom Richards of England 11-4, 11-8, 11-3 to meet the top seed Mohamed Elshorbagy of Egypt next.

by Abhishek Shukla

India’s Vikram Malhotra won his second PSA event in a week

Houston: India’s Vikram Malhotra is on fire. The US- based player, who had only last week won a PSA Challenger event in Canada, added one more to his kitty with the triumph in the Texas Open, a PSA challenger here on Sunday. He beat Daniel Mekbeb of Czeck Republic over five games 11-6, 2-11, 5-11, 15-13, 11-1. This is Vikram’s 8th PSA title overall in his career thus far.

The fourth seeded Indian, who moved ahead after a first-round bye, got past three players enroute to the final. His second round victim was Syed Hamzad Bukhari of Pakistan, followed by Reuben Phillips of England in the quarterfinals and another Pakistani Shahjahan Khan, the 8th seed in the semi-final 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6.

Incidentally the top seed in this event was Ramit Tandon but he conceded his match in the quarter final to Shahjahan Khan, Vikram’s sem-final victim.

by Abhishek Shukla

World junior squash championship opens

Chennai: The world junior squash championship was formally declared open by the Tamil Nadu Minister for Youth Welfare and SportsDevelopment, Mr P. Balakrishna Reddy at a colourful function at the Indian Squash Academy here on Tuesday. The matches get underway on Wednesday.

Members from the 28 teams, including host India, marked for participation in this championship were present for the neatly organised function. Flag bearers of the representing countries came in to the arena amidst cheers all around and gathered into a colourful bunch within the centre court. As always the host team, whose flagbearer was Ashita Bhengra, received the biggest applause.

The Minister Mr Balakrishnan underlined the big role that the government had been doing for the promotion of sports in the state. He mentioned the name of former Chief Minister late J. Jayalalitha and her keen interest in sports development while adding that the present government was fully behind all the ideals that she had stood for. Ever since the establishing of modern infrastructure in the wake of the 1995 SAF Games, he said, the State had seen a surge in the performances of athletes in various sports. The government had also provided several crores of rupees in sportsincentives to the best performers. The Minister said he was happy that Tamil Nadu was in the forefront in the sport of squash and specially mentioned the role of State’s squash players Saurav Ghosal, Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik in the main in bringing laurels to the country.

Referring to the Current World championship, Mr Balakrishnan congratulated Mr N. Ramachandran, President, Tamil Nadu Squash Rackets Association and his team for the good work done for the successful conduct of the event.

Earlier Mr Ramachandran thanked the Government and the Chief Minister in particular for being very supportive in all the major ventures of the Squash Association, including the current World championship.

Also to speak on the occasion was Mr Dheeraj Kumar, Principal Secretar, Ministry of Youth Welfare and Sports Development. The Championship Director, Mr Cyrus Poncha proposed a vote of thanks.

Another highlight of the evening was a brief phase of music and dance to symbolise a blend of tradition and modernity that set alight the arena even as colour lights ran riot. All in all it was an evening that the good gathering in good cheer.

by Abhishek Shukla

Saurav Ghosal looses against to sees in Channel VAS championship

Surrey: Indian star Saurav Ghosal’s exciting journey ended at the semi-final stage with the top seed Mohamed Elshorbagy of Egypt beating him 13-11, 11-8, 11-9 late on Saturday in the Channel VAS championship, a major PSA world tour event here.

Ghosal had come in as a qualifier and beaten two seeded player enroute to the last four but the former world number one , Elshorbagy proved a tough nut to crack. But it was not an easy match for the Egyptian, even forced to save a game ball in the first game. Even though Ghosal played high standards forcing Elshorbagy to earn his points, the Indian could not dominate beyond a point.

by Abhishek Shukla

Saurav Ghosal reached semies of $ 100,000 Channel VAS Championship

Surrey (UK): It was mixed fortune for the three leading Indian professionals in the PSA circuit. While Saurav Ghosal had moments to relish having reached the semi-final after starting as a qualifier in the $ 100,000 Channel VAS Championship being held here, Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal exited in the first round itself from the $50,000 Carol Weymuller Open away in New York.

After two rounds of tough qualifying phase matches, Ghosal showed his mettle by dislodging the third seed Marwan Elshorbagy of Egypt in the first round 11-7, 11-7, 11-2 to reach the milestone of 200 match wins in the PSA circuit. This Egyptian did not pose much of a problem but in the next round, the Indian had a tough customer in another Egyptian , the eighth seeded Mohamed Abouelghar. Ghosal came back from being 1-2 in game scores at one stage to convert the 68 minute in his favour with some shrewd control over the pace of the match. The Indian won 11-9, 5-11, 8-11,11-3, 11-8 to get ready for another Egyptian, this time the top seed Mohamed Elshorbagy in the last four.

However in the US, the two grand ladies of Indian squash, Joshna and Dipika succumbed to their Egyptian opponents. Dipika was unlucky to get pitted against the second seed Raneem El Welily in the very first round and it was 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 defeat. Sixth seeded Joshna however faced a tough fight against Salma Hany and as it happened lost to the latter for the first time in seven meetings. Salma won 9-11, 13-11, 14-16, 11-5, 12-10.

by Abhishek Shukla

Joshna goes down fighting in US open Squash

Philadelphia: Indian star Joshna Chinappa showed fight but that was not enough to trouble the fifth seeded Nouran Gohar. The Egyptian found her way to carve out a 9-11, 11-9, 11-8,11-5 victory to make it to the quarterfinal of the US Open squash championship here on Tuesday.

The near one hour tussle, which had several close moments could have brought a surprise gift over the talented Egyptian. After picking the first game with a near perfect stroke-play, the thirteenth seed Joshna could not consolidate after the early lead. She led in the second but lost her way and even in the third though she led 8-6, Gohar played with lot of intent to douse the enthusiasm of the Indian.

by Abhishek Shukla

Dipika Pallikal lost in the semi-final of the San Fransisco Squash Open

San Fransisco: Dipika Pallikal Karthik’s dream run ends at the semi-final stage with former world champion and a legend Nicol David of Malaysia defeating her in straight games 11-3, 11-0, 11-5 here on Friday in the Oracle Netsuite San Fransisco Open, a $50,000 PSA world tour event.

Unlike in the earlier rounds, the Indian was never allowed the freedom to showcase her capability with Nicol taking just 22 minutes to finish off a swift job and make it to the final.

by Abhishek Shukla

Dipika Pallikal Karthik moved into the semi-final of the Sanfrancisco Open

San Fransisco: Dipika Pallikal Karthik’s sensational run continues. The star Indian demanded attention after ousting the sixth seed Olivia Blatchford of USA in straight games 13-11, 11-6, 11-9 to storm into the semi-final of the Oracle Netsuite San Francisco Open, a major PSA world tour event here on Wednesday.

The Egyptian coach of Indian squash, Achraf El Karugui who was monitoring the match said that Dipika’s show was all of grit and class. She was down 6-10 in the first game but clawed back not only to restore parity but win the extra points to grab the game. The next two games went close but the Indian was always in the lead right through. Only once had she lost to this American in their four earlier meetings.

Dipika now braces up to meet a tough opponent in second seed Nicol David, a former world champion and a legend in the sport, next in the last four on Friday(Saturday in India).

by Abhishek Shukla

Saurav Ghosal went down in the final of the Macau Open squash

Macau: Egyptian Mohamed Abouelghar, the second seed, ended the dream of Saurav Ghosal with a 11-1, 11-4, 11-4 win in the final of the $50,000 Macau Open, a major PSA world tour event here on Sunday night.

After the grand strides that Ghosal, the fourth seed, had made enroute to the final there was a flicker of hope when he came on to play the title round. Afterall two years ago in the CCI tournament in Mumbai, the Indian had beaten the Egyptian at the quaterfinal stage. But much has happened since with Ahbouelger jumping to rank 11 in the world, 17 rungs above Ghosal. The supremacy was reflected quick enough with the Egyptian giving little away in carving out a comfortable win.