Chennai, July 31: Top seed Indian Dipika Pallikal today brushed aside the challenge of Nouran El Torky of Egypt to advance to the semifinal of the 13th World Junior (Men and Women) Squash Championship here today.
Playing before a cheering crowd, Pallikal beat the fifth seeded Egyptian opponent 11-5, 4-11, 11-8, 11-6 in 37 minutes.
Pallikal faces 13-year-old and fourth seed Nour El Tayeb of Egypt in the semifinals tomorrow. Tayeb, who recently became the youngest ever player to reach the final of a WISPA event, eliminated her compatriot Salma Hany 11-7, 11-6, 11-1 in 21 minutes.
Having played three preliminary round matches without much resistance from her opponents, Pallikal was tested for the first time in the tournament, though briefly.
The Indian, however, showed impeccable retrieving powers throughout her match despite losing focus in the second game that she dropped.
–PTI