Top-ranked Indian Saurav Ghosal led home hopes through to the quarter-finals of the Kolkata International after a straight games win over Malta's Bradley Hindle in today's opening round of the PSA World Tour International 35 squash event at Calcutta Racket Club in Kolkata.
The Kolkata-born world No24 prevailed 12-10, 12-10, 11-3 in 49 minutes to set up a clash with reigning world junior champion Amr Khaled Khalifa. The 18-year-old Egyptian survived an 81-minute battle against fellow qualifier Ivan Yuen, beating the 20-year-old Malaysian 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5.
Top seed Karim Darwish led a quintet of Egyptians through to the last eight in Kolkata. The world No3 from Cairo despatched South African qualifier Clinton Leeuw 11-5, 11-1, 11-5 and will now face compatriot Mohd Ali Anwar Reda, the world No27 from Cairo who also overcame a qualifier when he beat Mexican Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira 11-9, 11-5, 11-9.
Former world number one Darwish is expected to meet a fellow countryman in Sunday's final. Second seed Omar Mosaad also put out a Mexican, defeating Cesar Salazar 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11.
RESULTS: PSA International 35 Kolkata International, Kolkata, India
1st round:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [Q] Clinton Leeuw (RSA) 11-5, 11-1, 11-5 (30m)
Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) bt [Q] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (43m)
[Q] Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) bt [Q] Ivan Yuen (MAS) 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (81m)
[4] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Bradley Hindle (MLT) 12-10, 12-10, 11-3 (49m)
[3] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 8-11, 11-2, 11-6, 2-11, 11-7 (61m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Siddharth Suchde (IND) 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7 (42m)
Robbie Temple (ENG) bt Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 11-9, 11-8, 11-13, 11-6 (78m)
[2] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11 (52m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY)
[4] Saurav Ghosal (IND) v [Q] Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY)
[3] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
[2] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Robbie Temple (ENG)