China Open: Dipika Pallikal eases into final round of qualifying

Pallikal won her match in only 14 minutes

The reigning Indian national squash champion Dipika Pallikal gave another example of her impeccable form at the $70,000 China Open in Shanghai on Tuesday. The World No. 19, who is playing the qualifying rounds at this tournament, put up a smashing performance to race into the final round.

Pallikal needed just 14 minutes to thrash her unranked Chinese opponent Peng Zhenni, 11-1, 11-2, 11-2 in an absolutely emphatic display of power, precision, and control. Her win has set up an intriguing final round match-up against the 27th ranked American Olivia Blatchford who was equally impressive in her 3-0 win over China’s He Xinru.

Blatchford had defeated Pallikal in their last PSA meeting, in the first round of the Netsuite Open in September, which was a thrilling five-game encounter. The Indian star needs to be alert this time if she wants to exact revenge.

However, Dipika’s recent exploits on the PSA Tour should give her enough confidence to take on the American. After conquering the Indian Nationals for the second time in her career, the 24-year-old reached back-to-back finals on the PSA Tour at the Victorian Open and the Australian Open, winning the latter.

That should hopefully propel her into the main draw and can set up a tantalizing first round clash with her Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning partner Joshna Chinappa. Chinappa, the World No. 12, is scheduled to kick off her campaign against a qualifier, her first round opponent is not yet known.

If Dipika wins her final round on Wednesday, she will be one of the four players from qualifying to progress into the 16-player main draw and has a chance of facing her compatriot in Round 1.

Ghosal up against the fourth seed in opener

The 17th ranked Saurav Ghosal is the third Indian playing in this tournament. The 11-time national champion faces the fourth seed Miguel Rodriguez of Colombia in the first round.

The 30-year-old Ghosal returned to competition in July after recuperating from an ankle injury and played his first PSA tournament in four months at the Hong Kong Open.

There, he lost to the eventual champion Ramy Ashour, in the opening round but Saurav can take a lot of inspiration from his most recent meeting with Rodriguez, whom he toppled at the Colombia Open last year.