Chandigarh boy Harinderpal Singh Sandhu caused a major upset, scalping sixth seeded Pakistani Shamsul Islam Khan en route to the quarter-finals of the Chennai Open Professional Squash championship on Thursday.
Harinderpal, ranked 143 in the world, had to exert every sinew before winning 12-10, 9-11, 11-1, 13-11 in 39 minutes.
He will next meet compatriot Ritwik Bhattacharya, who defeated Ravi Dixit 12-10, 11-9, 11-1 in another pre-quarter-final.
Top seed Saurav Ghosal thrashed compatriot Naresh Kumar 11-5, 11-7, 13-11 in another round of 16 match.
In the women's section, the country's ace players Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa made it to the quarter-finals with easy wins.
Pallikal demolished compatriot Swati Muchal 9-0, 9-2, 9-0, while Chinappa beat Aparajitha Balamurukan 9-2, 9-1, 9-0.
Local girl Anwesha Reddy also reached her first quarter-final when she
Defeated Russian Irian Assal 9-4, 9-4, 3-9, 9-1.
She will next face Orla Noom of the Netherlands. Noom beat Saumya Karki 9-1, 7-9, 9-3, 9-1.
Meanwhile qualifier, Harita Omprakash, playing in her first Women's International Squash Player's Association (WISPA), made it to the last eight defeating compatriot Surabhi Mishra 10-8, 9-5, 9-2.
Omprakash will lock horns with world ranked 54 Annie Au of Hong Kong for a berth in the semi-finals.
Results:
Men's: Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Naresh Kumar (IND) 11-5, 11-7, 13-11; Rob Sutherland (WAL) bt (Q) Graeme Wilson (NZL) 11-4, 11-6, 11-4; Ryan Cuskelly (Aus) bt Zac Alexander 12-10, 11-4, 11-4; Dick Lau (HKG) bt (Q) Parth Sharma (IND) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7; Max Lee (HKG) bt Gaurav Nandrajog (IND) 12-14, 11-8, 11-1,12-10; Mohd. Ali Reda (PAK) bt James Snell 11-9, 11-7, 11-7; Harinderpal Sandhu (IND) bt (6) Shamshul Islam Khan (PAK) 12-10, 9-11, 11-1, 13-11; Ritwik Bhattacharya (IND) bt Ravi Dixit (IND) 12-10, 11-9, 11-1.
Women's: Christine Mak (HKG) bt Shriya Khatri (IND) 9-2, 9-3, 9-2; Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt Swati Muchal (IND) 9-0, 9-2, 9-0; Orla Noom (NED) bt Saumya Karki (IND) 9-1, 7-9, 9-3, 9-1; Anwesha Reddy (IND) bt Irian Assal (RUS) 9-4, 9-4, 3-9, 9-1; Harita Om Prakash (IND) bt Surbhi Misra (IND) 10-8, 9-5, 9-2; Annie Au (HKG) bt Anaka Alankamony (RUS) 9-4, 9-0, 9-2; Birgit Coufal (AUT) bt Sachika Balvani (IND) 9-4, 9-4, 9-3; Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt Aparajitha Balamurukan (IND) 9-2, 9-1, 9-0.
