The Indian challenge came to an end at the $185, 000 Naza Women’s World Squash Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as the country’s top-ranked player Joshna Chinappa bowed out in the second round on Wednesday. The national champion lost 3-11, 6-11, 3-11 to the top seed and World No. 1 Laura Massaro of England in 26 minutes.
The latter goes on to meet the winner of the match between the sixth seed Omneya Abdel Kawy and local hope Delia Arnold in the quarter-finals. This will be her fifth consecutive appearance in the last-eight stage of this prestigious meet.
The 14th ranked Joshna, who had earlier won her first round comfortably in straight games, was no match for the 32-year-old Englishwoman. The British national champion, who had won two PSA World Series events since September, was spot on with her shotmaking, pace, and movement and did not give Joshna any chance to settle down.
Earlier on Tuesday, Dipika Pallikal had exited from the tournament in the first round, losing a thrilling five-game match to the 10th ranked Annie Au.
In some of the other results from Wednesday, former World No. 1 and third seed Raneem El Welily beat Joelle King, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10. The No. 1 American Amanda Sobhy, seeded seventh, had to grind out a tough 11-0, 11-7, 4-11, 7-11, 12-10 victory over US Open runner-up Nour El Tayeb of Egypt.
