Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal won the first round in the Cleveland Classic

Joshna Chinappa in action

The two Indian women stars Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal made a bright start to their campaign in the $50,000 Cleveland Squash Classic, a PSA World tour event in Ohio in USA.

Both of them got past their respective first round opponents to reach the quarters in this draw of 16. Sixth seeded Joshna survived a scare before beating the English qualifier Georgina Stoker 3-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9 while Dipika, who is unseeded set aside the seventh seeded Low Wee Wern of Malaysia in four games 11-2, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9.

The highest ranked Indian  at  15, Joshna faces top seeded Camille Serme  of France, the world number four while Dipika takes on former World junior champion Amanda  Sobhy of US in the quarterfinals.