Maharashtra State Open Senior Squash Championship: Harinderpal, Saurav set up title clash

Harinderpal Singh Sandhu will face the top-seed Saurav Ghoshal in the final.

Top seed Saurav Ghosal and No. 2 Harinderpal Singh Sandhu fashioned contrasting wins to set up a mouth-watering title clash, in the Men’s Open semi-finals, in the 38th Bombay Gymkhana-HSBC Maharashtra State Open Senior Squash Championship, on Friday.

World No. 15 Ghosal halted local lad Aditya Jagtap 11-5, 11-6, 11-13, 11-4 after dropping an exciting third set over extra points and overcoming a minor hand injury he sustained during play early in the fourth. Jagtap threatened to stretch the match into the decider after snatching the third set, but defending champion Ghosal powered ahead in the crucial fourth to end the challenge.

In contrast, world No. 80 Sandhu endured a stiff challenge from sparring partner at the Indian Squash Academy, Chennai and third seed Ravi Dixit before snatching an exciting 11-6, 12-10, 13-11.

India No. 4 Dixit, who lost to Sandhu in the third/fourth play-off in the Nationals, made a brave effort to fashion a famous win but Sandhu used his experience to hold on.

“Ravi played really well,” said Sandhu. “It was a good test for me before meeting Saurav. I have never beaten Saurav, so I will make an attempt to do so in the final.”

Women’s top seed and world No. 26 Joshana Chinappa remained on course to defend her title with a straight-sets win over Nikita Joshi of Otters Club. Joshana will take on surprise finalist Aishwarya Bhattacharya who shocked second seed and last year’s runner-up Urwashi Joshi of Jindal Squash Academy, Vashind 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9 in a thriller.

Results:

Men’s Open: Semi-finals: Harinderpal Singh Sandhu (TN) bt Ravi Dixit (TN) 11-6, 12-10, 13-11; Saurav Ghosal (Kol) bt Aditya Jagtap (Mah) 11-5, 11-6, 11-13, 11-4.

Women (SF): Aishwarya Bhattacharya bt Urwashi Joshi (Jindal) 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9; Joshana Chinappa (TN) bt Nikita Joshi (Otters Club) 11-9, 11-5, 11-6.

Professionals (SF): Sanjay Pawar (Otters Club) bt Manish Chavan (Bombay Gym) 11-6, 11-9, 11-7; Rohit Kadam (CCI) bt Sachin Jadhav (JVPG) 11-1, 11-6, 11-8.