The Indian challenge in the CIMB Kuala Lumpur Open Squash championship came to an end after Dipika Pallikal and Saurav Ghosal lost their respective matches at the National Centre, Bukit Jalil, here today.
World No.15 Pallikal stretched England's world number eight, Jenny Duncalf to four games before losing 9-11 5-11 11-6 4-11 in the pre-quarterfinals while Ghosal squandered a 2-1 lead against Egypt's Tarek Momen to lose 6-11 11-8 11-5 6-11 5-11 in the men's first round.
In the match between Dipika and Duncalf, both the players worked the ball around the court really well, using all four corners to the full effect.
Both were hitting some great line, length using deception to try and catch each other out of position. It was Duncalf, though, who got the better of her younger opponent.
She will meet local favourite and top-ranked Nicol David in the quarterfinals.
The world ranked 19th, Ghosal missed chances galore against Momen despite leading the match 2-1 and lost the contest in 57 minutes.
After losing the first game, Ghosal went on the offensive and won five consecutive points to win the next 11-8. The third was close all the way to 5-5 but then again Ghosal put up a little passage of play together to win the next six points.
Momen got his momentum back in the fourth game, winning it 11-6. In the decider, the Egyptian held the ball in the front forehand racing out to a 7-2 lead and booking his place in the quarters with an 11-5 fifth game score.
Momen plays Spain's Borja Golan in the quarters.
