Indian challenge ends in World Open squash

Manchester, Oct 14 (UNI) It was a bad day for Indians as their challenge ended in the World Open squash with national champion's Saurav Ghosal defeat to Shahier Razik of Canada.

Ghosal, the lone Indian in the main draw, put up a stiff resistance in the first two games before gradually fizzling out as the Canadian chalked out a 12-10, 12-10, 11-4 win in 56 minutes.

None of Ghosal's compatriots could reach the main draw in the elite event.

Former national champion Ritwik Bhattacharya, who turned 28 today, was one step away from barging into the main draw before Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet thwarted his bid 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 3-11, 11-5 in the qualifying finals.

Even after losing the first two games, the Indian made a superb comeback but lost the match after fighting for one hour and 20 minutes.

''In the third game, I started to go back to basics, playing a straight game and in the next, I was really playing extremely well, all my shots were coming in,'' Ritwik said.

''But in the fifth, I started getting again, what I thought, were awful calls. I don't normally complain or find excuses but I truly believe the referee made the difference on the match,'' he added.

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