Qualifying Kicks Off at NSCI Open

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The NSCI Open JSW Indian Squash Circuit, PSA M15 tournament saw its first qualifying round begin with the majority of seeded players making it through to the next round.

Local player Vikram Malhotra upset sixth seed Christo Potgieter with a tenacious display in the pair’s enthralling clash. Malhotra recovered from dropping the opening game by levelling things up in the second but, after a tense tie-break, the World No.385 found himself 2-1 down and staring down the barrel of defeat. Unperturbed, 25-year-old Malhotra battled back to secure a 9-11, 11-4, 13-15, 12-10, 11-9 victory to move on to the final qualifying round.

He will fight for a place in the main draw with Mazen Gamal after the Grand Sport Armenian Challenger victor saw off compatriot Basem Makram in straight games.

Vijay Kumar navigated a tricky tie against Jean-Pierre Brits to achieve his place in the next round. Despite dropping the first game, the 19-year-old Indian fought back impressively to record a 3-1 win. He will go up against second seed Shehab Essam who blitzed past Ashish Keskar, dropping only a handful of points throughout the match.

Number one seed Carlos Cornes Ribadas overcame Abhinav Sinha in a 3-0 triumph and will meet Sandeep Jangra for a place in the main draw’s opening round after the World No.253 overcame Ankit Acharya.

Karim El Hammamy and Ravi Dixit will face off for a place in the main draw after El Hammamy received a walkover against Aryaman Adik and Dixit sailed past Aishwarya Singh.

Results – First Qualifying Round: NSCI Open JSW Indian Squash Circuit 2015
[1] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) bt Abhinav Sinha (IND) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-7
[8] Sandeep Jangra (NED) bt [L] Ankit Acharya (IND) 3-0: 11-5, 11-7, 11-4
[5] Ravi Dixit (IND) bt [L] Aishwarya Singh (IND) 3-0: 11-4, 11-1, 11-4
[3] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) bt [L] Aryaman Adik (IND) w/o
[4] Mazen Gamal (EGY) bt Basem Makram (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-5
[L] Vikram Malhotra (IND) bt [6] Christo Potgieter (RSA) 3-2: 9-11, 11-4, 13-15, 12-10, 11-9
Vijay Kumar (IND) bt [7] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6
[2] Shehab Essam (EGY) bt Ashish Keskar (IND) 3-0: 11-5, 11-0, 11-0

Draw – Final Qualifying Round
[1] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) v [8] Sandeep Jangra (NED)
[5] Ravi Dixit (IND) v [3] Karim El Hammamy (EGY)
[4] Mazen Gamal (EGY) v [L] Vikram Malhotra (IND)
Vijay Kumar (IND) v [2] Shehab Essam (EGY)