Rishad Pandole knocked out Vrishab Kotian with a 11-9 5-11 11-8 11-8 victory in the men’s pre-quarterfinal round of CCI-Western India Open squash tournament at the Cricket Club of India on Thursday.
Kotian, who is the top-seed in under-19 age group, had the upper hand in all the four games but Pandole fought back in all of them to win three and progress to the next stage.
Neither of the players gained an upper hand in the opening exchanges and were tied up at 4-4 until the teenager Kotian forged ahead and opened up a three-point lead at 8-5. Pandole fought back to make the score 9-9 and went on to take the game 11-9.
Kotian came back strongly in the second game to take a 4-1 lead. Pandole won some long points to come close at 5-7. However, Kotian won the next six points to square up the match.
Kotian continued his domination by taking a 5-0 lead in the third game. That is where Pandole turned the match around with some aggressive shots to take an 8-6 lead. He then held his nerve to win the game 11-8 and re-establish the one-game lead over his opponent.
Kotian, once again, opened up a five-point lead at 6-1 in the must win fourth game. Pandole repeated his feat from the third game and closed out the deficit to win the game with an identical 11-8 margin and with it the match.
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