CWG 2022 Squash: Saurav Ghosal loses in semis, to play for bronze


CWG 2022 Squash: Saurav Ghosal loses in semis, to play for bronze

Saurav Ghosal’s hunt for a maiden CWG Men’s Singles gold came to an end after he lost 0-3 to World No.2 Paul Coll of New Zealand in the semifinals.

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Coll was always the favourite going into the match but the first set was evidence that Ghosal was not going down without a fight. Ghosal was down 6-10 before he saved three game points. However Coll managed to win the set 11-9. After that it was one-way traffic in favour of the Kiwi. The British Open champion was simply too quick and crafty for the veteran Indian. Coll won the next two sets by scorelines 11-4, 11-1 to book a place in the finals.

Ghosal had yesterday made it to the CWG semifinals for the second time in his career after taking down Scotland’s Greg Lobban.

Coll will take on the winner of the second semifinal between defending champion James Willstrop of England and World No.7 Joel Makin of Wales in the finals. Ghosal will face the loser of that match for bronze.

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Both Coll and Ghosal will also be in action in the Men’s and Mixed Doubles competition.

Naughton beats defending champion Joelle King, to play Georgina Kennedy

Canada’s Hollie Naughton had beaten higher ranked Joshna Chinappa in the quarterfinals. She went one better in the semis by taking out top seed and defending champion Joelle King of New Zealand.

King took the first set 11-7 but the Canadian bounced back to take the second 11-4. The third set was closer but Naughton won 11-8. The younger Naughton then completely stunned the New Zealander with her speed and agility in the fourth set. Naughton raced to a 9-0 lead before King could win her first point. Naughton finally won 11-1 to ensure herself of a first CWG medal.

She will play Georgina Kennedy in the finals while King will take on Sarah Jane Perry in the bronze match.

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Third seed Kennedy defeated second seed Perry 3-1 in a thrilling all-English semi-final.

Sunayna in plate final

India’s Sunayna Kuruvilla may have missed out a chance for a medal after crashing out in the Round of 32 but she still has a chance at a consolation prize in form of the Plate Division title.

Sunayna defeated Pakistan’s Faiza Zafar by a score of 11-2, 11-4, 11-5 in the Plate semifinals. In the finals, she will take on Guyana’s Mary Fung-A-Fat who beat Pakistani Amna Fayyaz in the other Plate semi-final.