Chennai, July 30: Top seed and favourite Dipika Pallikal of India sailed smoothly into the quarter-finals of the girls singles in the 13th junior World Squash Championships at the ICL Academy courts, here Thursday.
Leaving nothing to chance, Dipika, the 17-year old from Chennai blasted past Yathreb Abel of Egypt 11-5, 11-7, 11-5 in 22 minutes. She will next meet another Egyptian, the fifth seeded Nouran El Torky Friday.
Meanwhile, the other Indian hope, Anwesha Reddy went down rather tamely to second seed Heba El Torky of Egypt who carried far too much power and courtcraft for the 17-year old Indian.
Egypt, in fact, had six players in the quarter-finals, including 15th seed Nour El Sherbini who upset No.6 Low Wee Nee of Malaysia in five games.
Reflecting on her performance, Dipika said: ‘I am quite happy with my form, but I know it will get tougher from the quarter-finals. I have trained hard for this tournament just like everyone else here. I am taking one match at a time and not looking too far ahead.’
In the boys singles, top seed and defending champion Mohammed El Shorbagy of Egypt led the field into the round of eight and looked unbeatable.
Earlier in the day, Dipika was in imperious form while defeating New Zealand’s Lana Harrison in just 19 minutes to remain on course.
In contrast, Answeha needed all of 42 minutes and four games to quell Carrie Ramsey of England.
Late last night, the Indian challenge in the boys’ singles ended with the exit of Ramit Tandon, Ravi Dixit and Karan Malik.
Girls singles (Pre-quarterfinals): 1-Dipika Pallikal (IND) beat Yathreb Abel (EGY) 11-5, 11-7, 11-5 (22m); 4-Nour El Tayeb (EGY) beat 11-Samantha Cornett (CAN) 11-4, 11-8, 11-6; 15- Nour El Sherbini (EGY) beat 6- Low Wee Nee (MAS) 7-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-3 (42m); 5-Nouran El Torky (EGY) beat 10-Nessirine Affrin (MAS) 9-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-6 (33m); 13-Salma Hany (EGY) beat 7-Olivia Blatchford (USA) 11-8, 17-15, 11-8 (47m); 14-Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) beat 26-Amanda Sobhy (USA) 15-13, 11-6, 11-5 (33m); 2- Heba El Torky (EGY) beat 16- Anwesha Reddy (IND) 11-2, 11-5, 11-6.
Third round: 1-Dipika Pallikal (IND) beat 17- Lana Harrison (NZL) 11-1 11-7 11-7 (19m); Yathreb Adel (EGY) beat 18- Milou van der Heijden (NED) 11-4 11-9 14-12 (26m); 10- Nessrine Ariffin (MAS) beat Ho Ka Po (HKG) 11-7 11-9 11-5 (20m); 5- Nouran El Torky (EGY) beat 20- Julianne Courtice (ENG) 9-11 11-3 11-5 11-5 (31m); 4- Nour El Tayeb (EGY) beat 21- Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 11-1 11-8 11-3 (25m); 11- Samantha Cornett (CAN) beat 22- Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 8-11 14-12 11-6 8-11 11-9 (49m); 13- Salma Hany (EGY) beat 23- Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) 11-8 3-11 11-2 11-8 (28m); 7- Olivia Blatchford (USA) beat 24- Rachael Goh Mas (MAS) 11-8 11-4 11-7 (21m); 8- Maria Toor Pakay (PAK) beat Surbhi Misra (IND) 11-7 11-6 11-8 (24m); Elizabeth Eyre (USA) beat 12- Kimberley Hay (ENG) 3-11 13-11 11-6 11-7 (31m); 14- Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) beat Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) 11-4 12-10 11-3 (25m); 28- Amanda Sobhy (USA) beat 3- Laura Gemmell (CAN) 13-11 11-9 9-11 11-6 (55m); 6- Low Wee Nee (MAS) beat Carmen Lee (HKG) 11-2 11-5 9-11 11-5 (35m); 15- Nour El Sherbini (EGY) beat Emma Millar (NZL) 11-5 11-1 11-3 (15m); 16- Anwesha Reddy (IND) beat 31- Carrie Ramsey (ENG) 11-6 11-8 8-11 11-4 (42m); 2- Heba El Torky (EGY) beat 32- Catalina Pelaez (COL) 11-9 11-7 11-4 (13m).
Boys’ singles (Pre-quarterfinals): 1-Mohammed El Shorbagy (EGY) beat Miled Zarazua (MEX) 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (23m); 8-Farhan Zaman (PAK) beat 11-Todd Harity (USA) 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 10-12, 12-10 (62m); 4-Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) beat 12-Lucas Vauzelle (FRA) 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (31m); 13-Lucas Sarme (FRA) beat 25-Nosherwan Khan (PAK) 11-2, 11-7, 12-10 (44m); 6-Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) beat 30-Antoine-Carmille Petrucci (FRA) 11-5, 11-2, 11-5 (30m);
Second round (India matches): 6-Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) beat 29-Karan Malik (IND) 11-4 11-3 11-1 (21m); 11-Todd Harrity (USA) beat 22-Ramit Tandon (IND) 11-5 11-9 11-4 (20m); 12-Lucas Vauzelle (FRA) beat Abhishek Pradhan (IND) 12-10 11-9 13-11 (37m).
–IANS–