Saurav Ghosal, Mahesh Mangaonkar Reach Quarterfinals of Kolkata International

Saurav Ghosal goes after a shot v Nathan Lake; Photo credit: Nitesh Square
Saurav Ghosal goes after a shot v Nathan Lake; Photo credit: Nitesh Square

Third seed Saurav Ghosal and seventh seed Mahesh Mangaonkar were the only two Indians to advance to the quarter-finals of the $35k Kolkata International on Thursday.

Ghosal puts up a great display of his speed

‘Fast and furious’ – that’s how one would like to describe the opening game of the match between the third seed Saurav Ghosal and qualifier Nathan Lake. It was fierce, speedy and squash was at its finest best.

The lefty Englishman kept up with Saurav’s pace and the local star just about managed to edge him to take the first game 11-9. By the second game, Lake was already drained out and he was finding it difficult to stay in close touch with Saurav.

The India No. 1 who had been training with the three-time world champion Ramy Ashour, gave a testament of his amazing speed and kept varying the lengths and angles of his shots which threw his opponent off-balance. Saurav Ghosal wrapped up the match 11-9, 11-3, 11-5.

“I’ve not played him ever before. I had a little bit of trouble to see what his game was all about. He played some really good stuff at the beginning of the match. After the first game, I was more in control. It’s good to win 3-0. Hopefully, I’ll play better tomorrow and as the tournament goes on,” said Ghosal.

Mangaonkar edges past Harinderpal Sandhu

Harinderpal Singh Sandhu and Mahesh Mangaonkar dispute a call; Photo credit: Nitesh Square
Harinderpal Singh Sandhu and Mahesh Mangaonkar dispute a call; Photo credit: Nitesh Square

India teammates Harinderpal Sandhu and Mahesh Mangaonkar produced an intense and dramatic nail-biter which was the longest contest of the day at 75 minutes. It was the 2014 National Champion Harinder who got off to a better start. With his deft touches and wristy shots, he started taking pace off the ball to disrupt the rhythm of his 2014 Asian Games gold medal-winning teammate. Sandhu quickly took the first game 11-6.

The younger Indian made a superb comeback after that. He played the second game more tactically, robbing Harinder of the precious height of the ball, thus sending him scrambling across the court. Mahesh grabbed the second game 11-7.

The third game was a neck-to-neck battle in which both players moved all over the court and mixed up their shots smartly. From 6-6, Sandhu broke away to 8-6 and then closed it out 11-9 with the aid of some lovely drops.

Mangaonkar came roaring back with superb variations of the height and speed of his shots. He made it 2-2 by clinching the fourth game 11-6.

Mahesh, brimming with confidence, then stormed out to a 4-0 lead in the decider before Sandhu could even score a point. Sandhu looked exhausted at times and Mahesh capitalized on it with long rallies. The 52nd ranked Mangaonkar then closed it out 6-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6.

Saurav Ghosal and Mahesh Mangaonkar will lock horns in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Kush Kumar fades away after a good start

Fast-rising teenager Kush Kumar made a brilliant start but could not hold on to it. The 19-year-old qualifier raced to 5-1 and even 9-6 in the opening game. However, the fifth-seeded Egyptian Zahed Mohamed cut down on his errors and staged a comeback. He took the next five points to grab the first game 11-9.

Mohamed then won the next two games as well to wrap up the match 11-9, 11-8, 11-4.

He will next face the second seed Steve Coppinger who won when his opponent, Ivan Yuen retired at 3-11, 9-11, 4-9 due to illness.

Ramit Tandon bows out

Indian wildcard Ramit Tandon brought forth his repertoire of unpredictable shots to trouble the fourth seed Chris Simpson. With the crowd cheering for the Kolkata boy, the Englishman had it tough. But the World No. 22 still managed to navigate his way through without any major hassle. Simpson won 11-9, 15-13, 11-7.

He will square off against the eighth-seeded Scotsman Greg Lobban for a place in the semis.

Lobban was stretched by a determined Ammar Altamimi who had qualified for the main draw. The Kuwaiti player showed little signs of any nerve and enforced a decider. However, he could not replicate that spectacular effort in the decider and Lobban took control of the proceedings. The Edinburgh lad reigned supreme 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 10-12, 11-5.

Top seed Marwan Elshorbagy overcomes tough opponent

Top seed Marwan Elshorbagy had to work extra hard to get past qualifier Sanjay Singh Chal. The left-handed Malaysian put up a brilliant display to snatch the first game 14-12. World No. 12 Elshorbagy then speeded up his game and kept varying the lengths of his shots to tackle Sanjay. The tactic worked and he soon took a two-games-to-one lead.

In the fourth game, the two stayed close till 5-5. But Marwan’s variations, dropshots and better fitness proved crucial as he sailed away to an 12-14, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 triumph.

He will next face Rex Hedrick who upset the sixth seed Olli Tuominen on Thursday.

The Australian player, Hedrick used longer rallies to great effect and posted an 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 victory over Tuominen.

Full results:

Rex Hedrick (AUS) beat Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 in 28 minGreg Lobban (SC) beat Ammar Altamimi (KUW) 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 10-12, 11-5 in 55 minZahed Mohamed (EGY) beat Kush Kumar (IND) 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 in 38 minChris Simpson (ENG) beat Ramit Tandon (IND) 11-9, 15-13, 11-7 in 61 minMarwan Elshorbagy (EGY) beat Sanjay Singh Chal (MAS) 12-14, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 in 39 minSaurav Ghosal (IND) beat Nathan Lake (ENG) 11-9, 11-3, 11-5 in 47 minStephen Coppinger (RSA) beat Ivan Yuen (MAS) 11-3, 11-9, 9-4 in 36 min (Yuen retired ill)Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) beat Harinderpal Singh Sandhu 6-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 in 75 min

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Edited by Staff Editor