Sandhu scalps Kandra to enter final of squash tourney

Indian champion Harinder Pal Sandhu lined up for the title after beating top seeded German Raphael Kandra in four games to reach the final of the $10,000 Christchurch International squash tournament, a Professional Squash Association (PSA) world tour event, here on Saturday.

Sandhu, who won 12-10, 6-11, 15-13, 11-7, faces fourth seeded Declan James of England in Sunday's final.

After a tough quarter-final match where he was tested by Taipei player James Huang, Sandhu began to stroke well and rallied and retrieved with considerable control.

The match started on an even note with both players having to do a lot of running back and forth. However, with increasing pace, Sandhu was able to get his shots through, at times pinning Kandra to the back and taking control of the forecourt area.

The German was not to give up easily. Aided by a little waywardness by Sandhu, he grabbed the second game and put up a resolute fight in the third. But the Indian was able to dictate the pace and eventually the long fight ended past the hour.