Squash: Sandhu, Dixit make quarter-finals

Mumbai, Oct 17: Asian Games gold medalist Harinder Pal Sandhu defeated qualifier Benjamin Coates 11-1, 11-5, 11-5, to enter the quarter-finals of the JSW Challenger Squash Circuit tournament here Thursday.

In another quick game, Ravi Dixit defeated Deepak Mishra 11-4, 11-6, 11-8, in just 29 minutes to also enter the quarter-finals.

In the other men's matches, Egypt's Shehab Essam Hosny defeated Pakistani Ahsan Ayaz 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 11-2 in 49 minutes and Malaysia's Sanjay Singh routed Alex Noakes of England 11-6, 11-2, 11-6.

In the woman's draw, Asian Games doubles medalist Dipika Pallikal was given a bye into quarter-finals, while Jindal Squash Academy's Urvashi Joshi put up a fight against Pakistan's Sammer Anjum who eventually won 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 3-11, 11-9.

Winner of previous two rounds Nouran El Torky of Egypt took just 26 minutes to defeat Pakistan's Sadia Gul 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, while Jaipur round finalist Cheyna Tucker eased past Riddhi Sampat 11-4, 11-3, 11-2 and third seed Birgit Coufal beat Jui Kalgutkar 11-7, 11-4, 11-3.

Also through to the round of eight were Laura Pomportes of France who brushed aside Nikita Joshi 11-4, 11-6, 11-5, Shehab Essam Hosny (Egypt) a 11-5,9-11,11-4,11-2 winner over Ahsan Ayaz (Pakistan).