Dipika, Gaurav start with wins in Chennai Open

The WISPA (Women’s International Squash Players’ Association) Chennai Open got off to a false start with fourth-seeded Alison Waters of England forced to withdraw due to tendonitis of the leg.

Meanwhile, the qualifying rounds for the women’s and PSA  men’s events began on Tuesday at the Indian Squash Academy courts.
In the men’s qualifiers, Gaurav Nandrajog — ranked 174 — shocked Kamran Khan of Malaysia (ranked 48 places higher) in a match that went the distance.

Results (qualifiers) — Women: Dipika Pallikal (Ind) bt Coline Aumard (Fra) 11-2, 11-8, 11-8; Joey Chan (Hgk) bt Surbhi Mishra (Ind) 13-11, 11-4, 11-5; Sharon Wee (Mas) bt Aparajitha Balamurukan (Ind) 11-4, 11-7, 11-1; Anaka Alankamony (Ind) bt A Reddy (Ind) 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7.

Men: Siddharth Suchde (Ind) bt Abhishek Pradhan (Ind) 11-4, 11-3, 11-7; Vikas Jangra (Ind) bt Naresh Kumar (Ind) 9-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6; Ritwik Bhattacharya (Ind) bt Sandeep Jangra (Ind) 11-8,11-9, 11-3; Stuart Crawford (Sco) bt Naveen Jangra (Ind) 11-9, 11-4, 11-8; Elvinn Keo (Mas) bt Parthiban Ayyappan (Ind) 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-3.