World Squash Championship 2013: Saurav Ghoshal enters quarterfinals and creates history

Saurav Ghoshal

Sourav Ghoshal has achieved a remarkable landmark which no other Indian Squash player has done ever before.

World No. 17 Indian Squash star created the history at the World Squash Championships being held at Manchester, England as he became the first Indian player ever to reach the quarter-finals of the World Championships.

Ghoshal, who is the reigning National Champion defeated World No. 40 Henrik Mustonen of Finland 3-2 (5-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2) in a match which lasted for an hour and 6 minutes.

Saurav didn’t look comfortable against the World No. 40 in the first game as he lost the opening game in just 12 minutes. In the second game both players were neck to neck but the lower ranked player from Finland won the points at crucial stage and snatched the second game.

Saurav was under pressure in the third game but he didn’t lose his cool and temperament at the decisive stage and won the game 11-8. After that the 27 year old Kolkata-born player completely dominated the next two games as he mounted a comeback of increasing authority to become India’s first-ever World quarter-finalist.

In the first round Sourav Ghoshal caused an upset after defeating the World No. 15 Alister Walker of Botswana 11-7, 11-5, 7-11, 11-7.

Ghoshal had a very tough task ahead as he will take on the World No. 1 Ramy Ashour of Egypt in the Quarterfinal. Ashour, who defeated the World No. 14 Cameron Pilley of Australia 9-11 11-8 11-4 12-10 in the second round is unbeaten in his lat 52 matches.

“For me it’s a massive achievement. It’s the first time I’ve made it to the quarter-finals of the World Championships and it’s huge to be in there in the last eight with the world’s best players,” a delighted Ghosal said after the match.