Mumbai: Asian Games medallist Dipika Pallikal cruised into the semifinals of the PSA USD-10,000 JSW Challenger Squash Circuit with a quick win over France's Chloe Mesic in three straight games here today.
The 23-year-old took just 22 minutes to thrash her opponent 11-3, 11-2, 11-4.
The bronze medallist at the just concluded Incheon Games will now face South Africa's Cheyna Tucker, who beat India's Sachika Ingale in three straight games, 11-5,13-11, 11-7, also in 22 minutes.
“The joy of playing at home is unparallelled. I strongly believe this circuit is hugely beneficial to the junior talent in the country. Never has such a strong field of players been so accessible to us in India and I think we, as a community of players and fans, should take complete advantage of it,” the young squash player said.
In the men's category, Asian Games gold medallist Harinder Pal Sandhu booked a spot in the semifinals after a facile 11-4, 11-6, 11-4 win over compatriot Ravi Dixit. He will face Egypt's unseeded Karim El Hammamy who stunned third seed Matias Tuomi with 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 win in 35 minutes.
In the other matches, double woman's champion, Nouran El Torky from Egypt, continued her winning ways and walked into the semifinal defeating higher seeded Brigit Coufal 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10 in 39 minutes. She will next take on France's Laura Pomportes, who defeated Pakistan's Sammer Anjum 11-7, 11-9, 11-5.
Fourth seed Shehab Essam Hosny defeated eighth seed Sanjay Singh from Malaysia 8-11, 11-1, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 in the men's draw.
India's Kush Kumar, playing against second seed Ammar Altamimi, retired when the match was set at two games a piece. Kush took the lead in the first two games before he retired hurt in the fifth game, where he was down 2-3.
