Ritwik beaten, Saurav reaches final; Joshna-Dipika in women's final

New Delhi, Sep 9 (UNI) Tamil Nadu lad Gaurav Nandrajog pulled off a upset win over top draw Ritwik Bhattacharya to set up a title clash with Saurav Ghosal in the final of the men's event of the 54th National Squash Championship.

There was no such upset in the women's section as both Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal, Gold and Silver medallist in the recent SAF Games, reached the finals.

Gaurav was not overawed by Ritwik's reputation and the Tamil Nadu boy, despite losing the first game, came back strongly to upstage his illustrious opponent 6-9, 9-6, 9-5, 9-1 to breeze into the final. Ritwik's show was affected after he ran into Gaurav during the second game and developed a strain.

In the other semifinal, Saurav Ghosal took time to settle into a rhythm before he tamed Suddharth Suchde of Maharashtra 10-8,9-3, 9-0.

In the women's section, it's going to be a repeat of the SAF Games final with Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal locking horns again.

Experienced Joshna put paid to talented Surbhi Mishra's hopes of an upset with a clinical 9-1, 9-2, 9-2 decimation of the Maharashtra girl. Joshna hardly broke a sweat in the match and raced away to a facile straight game win.

Dipika also looked a much improved player as she dropped just four points before pummelling fellow Tamil Nadu player Anwesha Reddy 9-1, 9-3, 9-0.

Dipika proved that she is head and shoulders above Anwesgha and took 21 minutes to tame her SAF Games teammate to storm into the final.

''I did not play well in the SAF Games and despite leading initially, I lost in straight games. But this is not going to happen tomorrow and I'm looking forward to the match,'' Dipika told UNI.

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