HKFC International: Dipika, Joshna advance to quarters

After a silver medal winning performance in the Asian Team Squash Championship in Chinese Taipei, India’s highest ranked player, Joshna Chinappa, continued her good run by registering an easy win against Egyptian qualifier Salma Hany at the HKFC International. The third-seed looked in great rhythm and raced to a 2-0 lead by winning the first two games 11-8, 11-7. Although she suffered a minor hiccup in the third, surrendering it 6-11, the Indian bounced back by winning the fourth game 11-8 to claim Victory in 37 minutes. Joshna will now face seventh-seed Rachael Grinham of Australia.

Sixth-seed Dipika Pallikal also made it to the quarterfinal on Wednesday after brushing aside Malaysian qualifier Low Wee Wern. The Indian took just 23 minutes to finish off Low Wee Wern by winning the match 11-1, 11-3, 11-3 to advance to the last eight. Dipika will face top-seed Joelle King in the quarterfinal today.

However in the men’s singles, India’s lone hope Mahesh Mangaonkar bowed out in the opening round after losing to third-seed Nafiizwan Adnan of Malaysia 0-3 (2-11, 12-14, 7-11).