5 Indian girls reach PQF, boys bid adieu British Jr Open Squash

New Delhi, Jan 5 (UNI) Five Indian girls booked their pre-quarterfinal berth but the challenge in boys' event came to a screeching halt with Mahesh Mangaonkar's defeat in the quarterfinals of the British Junior Open squash tournament.

According to information received here today, Mahesh, lone Indian boy to reach the under-13 quarterfinals, went down fighting to Pakistani Nematullah Khan in straight games.

The Pakistani quelled a late challenge from his Indian rival to tame him 9-5, 10-9, 10-8.

Earlier, Mahesh came from behind to beat Ahmed Abdel Latif 4-9, 2-9, 9-3, 9-2, 9-4.

In the boys under-15 category, the trio of Ravi Dixit, Ramit Tandon and Aditya Jagtap had crashed out, losing their pre-quarterfinal matches.

An erratic Ravi Dixit played some amazing squash before Egyptian Mohd El Sherbeny beat him 9-3, 7-9, 4-9, 9-5, 10-8.

Ramit Tandon, on the other hand, lost 4-9, 9-5,8-10, 7-9 to higher ranked Charles Sharps, while Aditya Jagtap was handed a 9-2, 9-2, 9-2 defeat by top seeded Amr Khalid Khalifa.

Meanwhile, it was a good day for the Indian girls in the under-13 section with with all moving into the top 16 barring an ill Shria Khatri.

Aparajitha Blamurukan thrashed local favourite Eleanor Eppke 9-0, 9-0, 9-1, Sachika Balvani trounced Natalie Machin 9-0, 9-1, 9-0, while Anaka Alankamony spanked Emma Payne 9-2, 9-0, 9-0.

Saumya Karki, however, had to toil hard to get the better of Egyptian Haidi Lala 9-4, 8-10, 3-9, 9-2, 9-6, while Shria Khatri lost to Emily Whitlock 1-9, 1-9, 2-9.

In the girls' under-15 section, Ankita Sharma beat Julia Lecoq 9-1, 9-6, 6-9, 5-9, 9-1 in a 46-minute to emerge on the right side of the second round match.

UNI