Sandhu, Mangaonkar lose in Hong Kong Open qualifying finals

Harinderpal Sandhu tried valiantly but couldn’t make it past the qualifying round

It wasn’t a day to remember for Indian squash players at the $150,000 Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open 2015 on Monday as both Harinderpal Sandhu and Mahesh Mangaonkar crashed out in the final round of qualifying.

World No.57 Mangaonkar found the 64th ranked local player Yip Tsz Fung too hot to handle and lost 4-11, 7-11, 6-11 in 34 minutes. The 22-year-old, who had the experience of beating the Indian before, said it was a relief to reach the main draw of the Hong Kong Open for the first time.

“I’d beaten Mahesh before so I knew I could do it, but it’s still a relief to make it through for the first time,” said Yip Tsz Fung.

Former national champion Harinderpal Sandhu was engaged in a tight contest with World No. 29 Zahed Mohamed but unfortunately ended up on the losing side eventually. The 71st ranked Sandhu went down 11-9, 6-11, 9-11, 5-11 in 47 minutes.

The main draw of this World Series event begins on Tuesday. The Indian trio of Saurav Ghosal, Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa will be looking to carry on with their impressive form.

While Saurav Ghosal’s first round match against the 14th ranked Steve Coppinger is scheduled on Tuesday, both Pallikal and Chinappa will begin their campaigns on Wednesday.

After a final reshuffling of the main draw, Chinappa now faces qualifier Megan Craig of New Zealand, who is ranked 39th. Pallikal too has a relatively easy opponent as she is up against the reigning British Junior U-17 champion Habiba Mohamed of Egypt, who is ranked 29th.