India's Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, upset sixth-seed Abdulla Al-Tamini of Qatar while Joshna Chinappa scored an easy win over Philippines' Jemyca Aribado in their respective events at the 19th Asian Individual Squash Championship, here today.
Sandhu, ranked 95 on the PSA World Tour, defeated his 37th ranked rival in five games to enter the quarterfinals.
Later in the day, local favourite Joshna Chinappa, seeded second in the women's section, had little difficulty in getting past Aribado 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 in 31 minutes.
But it was Sandhu, a former national champion, who stole the limelight. He was up against the 37th-ranked Al-Tamini and quickly found himself a game down with the Qatar player starting off aggressively.
The Indian, a product of the famed Indian Squash Academy here, levelled the match by winning the second but found himself trailing again as Al-Tamini stepped on the gas.
The Indian, backed by a goodly home crowd at the Express Avenue mall where some matches are being played, turned the heat on the higher-ranked Qatar opponent and prevailed by taking the fourth and fifth games with identical 11-6 margins.
Sandhu awaits the winner of the match between all-Hong Kong clash between top-seed Max Lee and Wong Chi Him in the last eight.
However, two other Indians - Mahesh Mangaonkar and Chennai lad Velavan Senthilkumar went down to seeded players, to exit the tournament.
Vikram Malhotra, seeded 10, joined Sandhu in the next round by posting a 11-1, 11-4, 11-9 win over Muhammad Addeen Idrakie of Malaysia.
In other women's matches of the day, top-seed Annie Au of Hong Kong made short work of Lee Jihyun (Korea) 11-3, 11-5, 11-3 to book a spot in the last eight along with compatriots Liu Tsz Ling (5th-seed) and Tong Tsz Wing (6th-seed).
Indian player Sunanya Kuruvilla's good run ended as she lost to Wing in the second round. She had upset 12th-seed Choe Yura of Japan yesterday.
Results: Men singles (third round): Yuen Chee Wern (7) (Malaysia) beat Velavan Senthilkumar (India) 11-1, 11-1, 11-8; Yip Tsz Fung (4) (Hong Kong) beat Mahesh Mangaonkar (India) 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3; Mohd Nafiizwan (3) (Malaysia) beat Ahmad Alsaraj (Jordan) 11-3, 11-2, 11-1.
Leo Au (5) (Hong Kong) beat Ng Eain Yow (14) (Malaysia) 11-7, 14-12, 11-7; Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (15) (India) beat Abdulla Al-Tamimi (6) (Qatar) 4-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6; Vikram Malhotra (10) beat Muhammad Addeen Idrakie (Malaysia) , joined Sandhu in the next round by posting a 11-1, 11-4, 11-9.
Women's singles (2nd round): Annie Au (1) (Hong Kong) beat Lee Jihyun (Korea) 11-3, 11-5, 11-3; Satomi Watanabe (16) (Japan) beat Rachel Mae Arnold (8) (Malaysia) 10-12, 11-7, 5- 11, 11-5, 11-4; Liu Tsz Ling (5) beat Eum Hwayeong (Korea) 11 -6, 11-6, 11-4; Tong Tsz Wing (6) beat Sunanya Kuruvilla (India) 11-6, 11-4, 11-6; Joshna Chinappa beat Jemyca Aribado (Philippines) 11-7, 11-9, 11-7.
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