Ghosal downs World No. 8 to reach China Open quarters

Saurav Ghosal defeated Miguel Rodriguez of Colombia in the opening round of the PSA China Open in Shanghai. In women's event, Joshna Chinappa advanced to quarterfinals with a win over an Egyptian qualifier Heba El Torky

Saurav Ghosal fought back to beat Miguel Rodriquez 11-9, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5 in the opening round of China Open on Thursday.

India’s Saurav Ghosal upset World No. 8 Miguel Rodriguez of Colombia to advance to the quarterfinals of the PSA China Open here.

Ghosal fought back to beat his Colombian rival 11-9, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5 in the opening round of the USD 100,000 men’s event yesterday.

The World No. 21 from India had also defeated Rodriguez in Bogota last year.

The unseeded Ghosal plays sixth seed Karim Abdel Gawad of Egypt later today.

In the USD 70,000 women’s event, Joshna Chinappa entered the quarterfinals with a 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7 win over Egyptian qualifier Heba El Torky, while teammate Dipika Pallikal lost to third seed, another Egyptian Nouran Gohar, in straight games.

Chinappa, who is back in the top 10 in the latest world rankings, faces top seed Laura Massaro of England in the last eight match later today.

Chinappa is the second Indian to break the top-10 barrier after Pallikal, who is currently ranked 19th.