Squash: Ghosal, Joshna in title round

Champions Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa lined themselves up for titles in men's and women's singles respectively after chalking up comfortable victories in the semi-finals of the 61st National Squash championships here Thursday.

Ghosal ousted fourth seed Ravi Dixit 11-9, 11-5, 11-8, while Mahesh Mangaonkar from Maharashtra and the only non-Tamil Nadu player left in the draw eliminated second seed Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu 11-2, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9.

Meanwhile, Joshna accounted for Janet Vidhi from Delhi 11-3, 11-7, 11-4, and second seed Aparajitha Balamurukan knocked out Sachika Ingale (Delhi) 11-9, 11-7, 11-3 in the one-sided women's semi-finals.

In the men's semi-final, it was a close battle in the first game between Dixit and Ghoshal who is ranked 20th in the World. The top seed had opened a good lead at 9-6, but the youngster fought hard to claw to 9-10 only to falter at crucial point give away the first game at 9-11.

The experience of Ghoshal then got the better of Dixit as the top seed took the next two games 11-5 and 11-8 to book his berth in the final.

"Ravi played well and the potential to climb up the ladder. Perhaps, he has learned a good lesson," said Ghoshal adding that he was not complacent.

"I was trying out a few things, but I never throw away points even when I am working out certain things. The credit must be given to the youngster," Ghosal added.

The results:

Men's singles (semi-finals): 1-Saurav Ghosal (TN) bt 4-Ravi Dixit (TN) 11-9 11-5 11-8; 3-Mahesh Mangaonkar (Mah) bt 2-Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (TN) 11-2 11-6 9-11 11-9.

Women's singles (semi-finals): 1-Joshna Chinappa (TN) bt Janet Vidhi (Delhi) 11-3 11-7 11-4; 2-Aparajitha Balamurukan (TN) bt Sachika Ingale (Delhi) 11-9 11-7 11-3.