Ghosal beats Weller, meets Shabana next

Local favourite Saurav Ghosal survived an early challenge before edging past English qualifier Adrian Weller in straight games in the opening round of the Punj Lloyd PSA Masters squash tournament in Delhi on Wednesday.

World No 22 Ghosal defeated Weller 11-7, 12-10, 11-6 in 45 minutes to move into the pre-quarter-finals of the US $1,92,5000 event at the Siri Fort Sports Complex.

Ghosal, the lone surviving Indian in the men's event, has an uphill task on hand as he meets third seed and world No 6 Amr Shabana of Egypt in the last 16 on Thursday.

Shabana made short work of unseeded Steve Coppinger of South Africa, winning 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 in 29 minutes.

The other Indians in fray in the men's section -- Harinder Pal Sandhu, Sandeep Jangra and Siddharth Suchde -- crashed out of the event on Tuesday.

Among other seeded players, ninth seed Daryl Selby and fifth seed Peter Barker of England also advanced to the pre-quarters of the six-day event.