Ritwik shocked by rookie Pakistani

New Delhi, July 17 (UNI) Top seed Ritwik Bhattacharya failed to hold on to a 2-0 advantage and was stunned by rookie Pakistani Shoaib Hassan 2-3 in the quarter-finals of Northern India squash championship here today.

In a thrilling encounter, defending champion Ritwik could not captalise on to the two-game lead as the 19-year old Shoaib staged a remarkable rally to upset the top seed.

Ritwik was at his best for the first two games and played some fantastic shots and sailed comfortably at 9-4, 9-6. Hassan made a dramatic turnaround in the match taking the later three games (9-3, 9-7, 9-0).

Hassan not only showed his resilience but the resolute determination while overpowering his more fancied opponent.

In the semis Shoaib Hassan will take on compatriot Basit Ashfaq while second seed Saurav Ghosal faces another Pakistani Khayal Mohd Khan.

UNI HSB DH KN1758