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Former ISA trainee Saurav Ghosal lived up to the expectations of his fans in India in keeping the tricolor flag flying high by progressing to the semi final of the PSA Chennai Open 2010 at the Indian Squash Academy here this evening.
Fourth seeded Ghosal maintained his focus in a well planned manner to get past a fighting Chris Simpson (6th seed) of England 11-7, 11-7, 11-13, 11-7 in 64 minutes.
Ghosal, PSA ranked 29, plays second seeded Jonathan Kemp of England, while top seeded Malaysian, Ong Beng Hee, ranked 19th take on third seeded Mohd.Ali Reda in the semi final tomorrow evening.
The WISPA Chennai Open 2010 semi finals will be between World Champion and top seed, Nicol David and Kasey Brown (7th-Aus) and Jenny Duncalf (2nd-Eng) versus Rachael Grinham (3rd- Aus).
While three of the four women matches went on according to predictions with higher seeded players progressing to last two stages, the match between Brown and direct entrant Jaclyn Haweks (ranked 17th-Nzl) turned out to be evenly matched until in the decider the Aussie managed to improve from a 4-1 situation to win the game.
As for Nicol David’s day’s performance, she trailed 2-6 in the third game and had to exert every sinew to arrest the upper hand of Haweks, who was seen returning every ball with finesse. Once, David upped herself to the challenge, the top seed had her own felicity to run up to an easy win.
Ghosal was looking to achieve a straight forward 3-0 win. Excepting in the third game where Simpson managed to get in to the game right from beginning coming up with winners after rallies to match point for point, Ghosal led all through in the remaining three games.
The third game was evenly matched and the rivals were stuck at 9-9 for sometime before Ghosal broke the ice leading 10-9 and perhaps was managing to stay in the court despite pain on his back. Here, Simpson made it 11-10 with a boast from the back and then claimed the remaining two points for the game.
Beng Hee defeated Yann Perrin (7th seed) of France 11- 5 , 11-8, 11-8 in 41 minutes, while Reda , dropped the first game went on to win the next three to gain a 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 win over eighth seed Alan Clyne of Scotland.
Following are results of matches held on March 5, 2010:
PSA CHENNAI OPEN 2010: Winners move in to Semi Finals:
Ong Beng Hee (Mas-Top Seed) bt Yann Perrin (Fra-7th seed) 11-5, 11-8, 11-8 (41 mins).
Mohd. Ali Reda (Egypt—3rd seed) bt Alan Clyne (Scot-8th Seed) 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 (61 mins).
Saurav Ghosal (Ind-4th seed) bt Chris Simpson (Eng-6th seed) 11-7, 11-7, 11-13, 11-7 (64 mins).
Ghosal plays Jonathan Kemp (Eng-2nd seed) in semi final tomorrow.
Jonathan Kemp (Eng-2nd seed) bt Laurance Delasaux (Eng) 11-9, 11-4, 11-7 (31 mins). Kemp plays Ghosal in semi final tomorrow.
WISPA CHENNAI OPEN 2010: Winners move in to Semi finals.
Nicol David (Mas-top seed) bt Samantha Teran (Mex-8th seed) 11-9, 11-4, 12-10 ( 28 mins).
Kasey Brown (Aus-7th seed) bt Jaclyn Haweks (Nzl-Direct) 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 11-4 (in 69 mins).
Camille Serme (Fra—6th seed) bt Rachel Grinham (Aus-3rd seed) 4-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-3 (40 mins).
Jenny Duncalf (Eng—2nd seed) bt Laura Massaro (Eng—5th seed) 12-10, 11-9, 11-9 ( 43 Mins).
