The Hindu : Sport / Squash : Ghosal to meet Wai Hang Wong in final

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 16, 2007
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Sport - Squash

Ghosal to meet Wai Hang Wong in final

Special Correspondent

GOOD ENCOUNTER: Hong Kong's Wai Hang Wong bends low to retrieve in his semifinal match against compatriot Dick Lau. — Photo: V. Ganesan

Top seed and favourite Saurav Ghosal stormed into the final in style while second seed Wai Hang Wong sweated it out for his passage as the seedings were vindicated on Friday in the ICL-Chennai Open, the $6000 PSA super satellite tournament.

It will be an interesting title-clash on Saturday with a fully fit Saurav ready to show why he is highly ranked in the world circuit and the experienced Wai Hang Wong certain to lend all the poise and class to ensure a grand finale.

A former national champion of Hong Kong, who had been carrying a disappointment over losing that stature, Wong has played and won over Saurav before. "That was four years or so ago when he was still coming up. But Saurav looks so good now. I am sure it will be a great final," said the mild-mannered Wong, who enjoys being in the midst of kids and wasted no time after an energy-sapping semifinal against compatriot Dick Lau, to play with young crop of Academy players.

No quarter given

Considering that it was a contest involving two players from the same country, there was no let up in either player's eagerness to gain supremacy. Though the start was slow, the tempo picked up after Wong lost grip of the first game. Once warmed up, Wong provided a lesson in smooth gliding movement and half volleying. Not that Lau back-pedalled but it was a tussle that had touch-and-go written all over and went full distance, leaving both players breathless in the end.

Against a taller opponent that the Egyptian Mohammed El Shorbagy was, Saurav knew he had to be quick on his feet. The Indian also showed confidence in his stroke-making. The spun backhand drops were often winners while his drives down the alley had his rival lunging and running back.

Crafty

Shorbagy, who like Saurav is England-based, trains with the legendary Johna Barrington, knows a thing or two about court-craft. The trickle-boast that he once employed — getting the ball to hit the two walls gently and see it die on hitting the floor — had even Saurav nodding in approval.

It was a trade of wits for long with Saurav winning a drop or a deeply angled backhand to the nick or Shorbagy getting in a cross-court eluding the Indian.

But then when it came to the end, Saurav showed his ability to close it out fast, though in both second and third games, the Egyptian forced the issue over the tie-breaker. In 31 minutes the Indian romped home a winner to enter the final of a PSA tournament for the fourth time in his budding career and for the first time this season.

The results (semifinals): Saurav Ghosal (Ind) bt Mohammed El Shorbagy (Egy) 11-9, 12-10, 12-10; Wai Hang Wong (Hkg) bt Dick Lau (Hkg) 7-11, 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6.

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