Suchde enters main draw

The qualifiers for the PSA Masters was predictably a low-key affair at the Siri Fort Complex squash courts on Monday.

The qualifiers for the PSA Masters was predictably a low-key affair at the Siri Fort Complex squash courts on Monday. But for the players who were battling it out for the eight remaining spots in the main draw,it was as important as any other match,even if devoid of the interest that the later stages are to draw from the fans and and the media.

For the five Indians in the fray,there was a lot more at stake than just making the main draw. Up for grabs was a chance to play and learn from some of the greatest current squash players and valuable ranking points.

Unfortunately,there wasnt much they could do,with only Siddharth Suchde the next highest-ranked Indian player in the world at 94th spot,after Saurav Ghosalmaking it through to the final 32. The others Delhis Gaurav Nandrajog,Kush Kumar,Sandeep Jangra and Ravi Dixit were unable to match up to their stronger,faster opponents.

Suchde faced Dixit in an all-Indian qualifier,and the senior pro never appeared in trouble against the talented but physically weaker compatriot. He led 7-2 in the first game before winning it 11-3 without any problems.

For long,Dixit has been considered immensely talented,only to lose out at crucial moments. From his sub-junior dayswhen he started off at the Dhampur squash academy near Delhi before moving on to the Indian Squash Academy in ChennaiDixit has been lightening quick and comfortable with racquet but unable to match up in strength.

On Monday,too,he lost out to Suchde not so much on skill but because of strength. In the second game,Suchde eased to a 10-1 lead,winning 11-1 with little resistance. Not much changed in the third game either as Suchde won with minimum fuss. His reward is a first round match against sixth seed and World No.12 Wael El Hindi of Egypt.

On the other hand,all the three Englishmen in the qualifiers managed to move to the main draw. Adrian Weller had an easy outing against Deepak Mishra,while Chris Simpson beat Gaurav Nandrajog in straight sets. Joe Lee was stretched to the tie-breaker in the first game by Kush Kumar but the resistance did not last long.

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Experienced Sandeep Jangra was the only one to make a match of it against Dick Lau of Hong Kong,taking off two games against his opponent ranked 275 places above him. Jangra finally went down fighting 8-11,14-12,11-3,9-11,11-9 but was duly rewarded,getting through to the first round as the lucky loser. South Africas Stephen Coppinger,meanwhile,got a bye into the first round.

Qualifying results:

Adrian Weller (Eng) beat Deepak Mishra (Ind) 11-2,11-8,11-3; Dick Lau (HKG) beat Sandeep Jangra (Ind) 8-11,14-12,11-3,9-11,11-9; Campbell Grayson (NZL) beat Ivan Yuen (Mas) 13-11,15-13,8-11,11-4; Chris Simpson (Eng) beat Gaurav Nandrajog (Ind) 11-3,11-6,11-9; Joe Lee (Eng) beat Kush Kumar (Ind) 14-12,11-2,11-6; Siddharth Suchde (Ind) beat Ravi Dixit (Ind) 11-3,11-1,11-4; Kamran Khan (Mas) beat Martin Knight (NZL) 12-10,11-8,11-6.

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Saurav Ghosal