Saurav Ghosal Beats Mahesh Mangaonkar to Reach Kolkata International Squash semis

Saurav Ghosal lines up a shot v Mahesh Mangaonkar; Photo credit: Nitesh Square

Third seed Saurav Ghosal beat India teammate Mahesh Mangaonkar in the quarter-finals to keep Indian hopes alive at the 35k Kolkata International on Friday. Joining him in the last-four stage were the top seed Marwan Elshorbagy, second seed Steve Coppinger and fourth seed Chris Simpson.

Saurav wins all-Indian match

Kolkata boy Saurav Ghosal stamped his class in the quarter-finals much to the delight of his home crowd. The World No. 15 was sharp, accurate and made some impressive pick-ups to beat his Asian Games gold medal-winning teammate Mahesh Mangaonkar. The 21-year-old seventh seed, though, did begin the match well and put up an exhibition of his deft touches.

But as the match wore on, it was the older compatriot Ghosal whose variations of height, speed and especially his amazing retrievals made it absolutely difficult for Mangaonkar. Ghosal emerged victorious 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 in 35 minutes.

He will be next up against the second seed Steve Coppinger who edged past fifth seed Zahed Mohamed on Friday. The Egyptian had beaten Coppinger the last time they played so the South African World No. 14 came prepared this time.

In the longest match of the day at 65 minutes, it was Mohamed who led in the first two games but could not close out either one as the second seed came storming back. Mohamed had two game balls in the first game before Coppinger won it 14-12. In the second game too, he led 5-2 only to see his advantage vanish as the South African won the next nine points. In the third game, he did give a fight but it was not enough as Coppinger won the contest 14-12, 11-5, 11-7.

Elshorbagy survives a scare

Australian Rex Hedrick came close to causing a major upset but ultimately fell short. The World No. 55 Hedrick made his intentions clear from the very first game when he made a determined start against the World No. 12 Marwan Elshorbagy. With some long rallies, he grabbed the opening game 11-7.

Elshorbagy made subtle change of directions in the second game to surge ahead 3-1. But Hedrick kept coming back every time. Elshorbagy’s brilliance in the forecourt finally helped him edge the game 11-8.

The Egyptian then put up a master class in the third game by punctuating high balls with deft touches. Occupying more of the front court, he took the third game 11-2 and threw down the gauntlet at Hedrick.

The Aussie took the challenge and refused to go away easily. In a close game, it was the top seed who made a few errors and lost his focus to surrender it 8-11.

The unseeded player then soared to a 2-0 and then a 4-1 lead in the decider as Marwan kept misfiring. However, by virtue of a couple of his drops and a few errors from Hedrick, Elshorbagy found a second wind. He took the lead at 6-5 for the first time in the fifth game and then closed out the match 7-11, 11-8, 11-2, 8-11, 11-7 in 58 minutes.

He will next face fourth seed Chris Simpson who beat eighth seed Greg Lobban in the quarters.

The 22nd ranked Chris Simpson was dominant throughout the match and controlled the rallies beautifully to hardly give any chance to his Scottish opponent Greg Lobban. In the first two games, it was all Simpson as he conceded a total of nine points only.

Lobban fought hard in the third game but the long rallies ultimately wore him out as Simpson wrapped it up 11-2, 11-7, 12-10 in 51 minutes.

Full Results:

Chris Simpson (ENG) beat Greg Lobban (SCO) 11-2, 11-7, 12-10 in 51 minStephen Coppinger (RSA) beat Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 14-12, 11-5, 11-7 in 65 minMarwan Elshorbagy (EGY) beat Rex Hedrick (AUS) 7-11, 11-8, 11-2, 8-11, 11-7 in 58 minSaurav Ghosal (IND) beat Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 in 35 min