Mahesh, Dipika, Kush advance to last four

Delhi boy Kush Kumar rallied into the semifinal of the British Junior Open Squash Championship, as compatriots Dipika Pallikal and Mahesh Mangaonkar followed him to enter into final-four leg of the tournament, in Sheffield, England.

Kush, inspired with his last week’s Scottish Junior Open win, came from behind to defeat 3-4 seeded Israel’s Daniel Polichunk 8-11 8-11 11-5 11-5 11-9 in a keenly-contested quarterfinal in boys U-13 category, on Sunday.

Kush drafted his comeback when Daniel seemed to have wrapped up the affair after bagging the first two games and leading 5-0 in the third game.

Kush held nerves creditably and after the fifth game, Kush held on to 5-1 lead to advance to the semi-final.

Meanwhile, Dipika Pallikal disappointed Kimberly Hay of England 11-5 5-11 11-9 11-4 in girls’ U-19 section, while in boys’ U-15 category Mahesh Mangaonkar defeated Osama Khalifa Egypt 11-1 12-10 11-9 en route their respective semifinals.

However, hopes on two Indian contenders in girls’ U-15 section, Saumya Karki and Anaka Alankamony crashed as both of them bowed out from the quarterfinal stage. Saumya went down to Kanzy El Dafraway of Egypt 5-11 11-13 7-11, while Anaka lost to another Egyptian Nour El Sherbeny 3-11 6-11 6-11.

In the girls U-13 category, Pankhuri Malhotra failed to overcome Egyptian Adel Radwa as she went down 11-7 7-11 7-11 12-14.