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Four Indians played in the main draw of the recently-concluded $35k PSA event CCI International, out of which second seed Saurav Ghosal ended as the runner-up to the top-seeded Spaniard Borja Golan. It was the second leg of the JSW Indian Squash Circuit after the NSCI Open staged a week earlier. Keeping in line with the event’s motto to give exposure to homegrown players, as many as five Indians fought it out in the qualifying stages. Fast-rising teenager Kush Kumar was the only one to make it through to the main draw, thus joining the likes of Ghosal, Mahesh Mangaonkar and Harinderpal Sandhu.
Here’s a look back at the performances of the Indian squash players –
Saurav Ghosal
First round – Ghosal’s first round match against youngster Kush Kumar was a repeat of the Indian Nationals semi-finals, played just two months back. Much like the last time, this time also Saurav emerged victorious but not before his junior compatriot gave an exhibition of his talent.
After losing the first game 2-11, the teenager mixed up his shots and showed his variety to stretch Ghosal to 13-15 in the second game. Ghosal’s experience came in handy in the third game as tiredness crept into Kumar’s legs and he went down 2-11, 13-15, 4-11 in 39 minutes.
Quarter-finals – 38th ranked Mohamed Abouelghar kept Saurav on the ropes in the quarter-final match but in the end, Ghosal pulled through 11-9, 11-13, 11-5, 11-9. The 21-year-old Egyptian displayed some spectacular shotmaking but his frequent errors cost him the match.
Semi-finals – With a vociferous crowd cheering for the home hope, Saurav Ghosal and fourth seed Mazen Hesham played the most thrilling match of the tournament. It was the 21-year-old Egyptian’s exuberance versus maturity of the 29-year-old Ghosal that made it such a lively contest. After Saurav took the opener 11-7, the second game was a tug of war between the two. With brilliant pace and variety, it was the 20th ranked Egyptian who led 7-4 and even had four game balls.
But Hesham could not control his unforced errors which aided the Indian to clinch the second game as well. Hesham, however, showed a lot of courage to fight back and take the next two games despite the crowd rooting fervently for his opponent.
In the decider, the players stayed close and did not let the other one run away with a big lead. Finally, it was Ghosal’s equanimity which helped him to draw an error and wrap up the match 11-7, 13-11, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9 after an 89-minute battle.
Final – Top seed Borja Golan and second seed Saurav Ghosal reached the summit clash in contrasting fashion. While Saurav’s quarter-final and semi-final took 56 minutes and 89 minutes respectively, Golan was fresher and fitter of the two, having breezed through each of his three matches. In the last-four stage, he also had the advantage of playing three games lesser than Saurav’s draining semi-final as his opponent Shaun Le Roux retired after two games.
That became a factor as Saurav could not dig much into his reserves. Golan, on the other hand, was sharp and did not give the Indian a lot of space in his 11-6, 11-4, 10-12, 11-5 victory.
However, Saurav can be proud of his efforts as he has now reached the final in three of his last four international tournaments. The consistency is evident and it has now hauled him back to his career-best ranking of 15. Here’s hoping that with a bit more courage and luck of the draw, Saurav can push through the final hurdle.
Kush Kumar – 19-year-old Kush Kumar, who captured the Tasmanian Open in July, showed a lot of maturity in the first $35k PSA event of his career. Kumar, who is now ranked 115th after a good run in Australia, displayed his tactical prowess to beat NSCI Open semi-finalist Mazen Gamal in the final round of qualifying.
Earlier in the first round of qualifying, the 2014 World Junior Squash Championships bronze medallist had a win over Shehab Essam when the Egyptian retired at 9-11, 8-11, 4-9.
The two wins set up a tantalizing meeting with Ghosal in the first round of the main draw.
Mahesh Mangaonkar – It was a double whammy for Mahesh Mangaonkar as he lost to World No. 26 Adrian Waller in the opening round just four days after losing to him in the final of the NSCI Open. Much like that final, here also the Englishman lost the third game before getting the win in four (13-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5).
The 52nd ranked Mangaonkar had his chances, though. He held two game balls at 10-8 in the first game but Waller came back strongly to snatch it 13-11. Mahesh also had the momentum with him after grabbing the third game but fell back into a defensive mode and succumbed in the fourth.
After the match, the Indian identified the areas which need his attention – “I need to work on being calm and composed on court, but also tactically smart.”
Harinderpal Sandhu – 56th ranked Harinderpal Sandhu seemed undaunted by the prospect of facing the World No. 20 Mazen Hesham when he stormed out to take the first game 11-5 in his opening match. However, Hesham upped the intensity in the second game and attacked Sandhu relentlessly.
The Indian, who reached the quarter-finals of the NSCI Open, again made a fast start in the third game and led till midway. But the Egyptian once again regrouped well to take the third and the fourth games and thus make his way into Round 2 with a 5-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 victory.
The Indian squash brigade will get their next chance to do well at home when the third leg of the JSW Indian Squash Circuit begins in Kolkata on 22nd September.
