Kumar Through to Kolkata International Main Draw

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Kush Kumar was the only Indian player to make it through to the main draw of the Kolkata International JSW Indian Squash Circuit, PSA M35 event after an injury to his final qualifying round opponent Ahmad Al-Saraj.

19-year-old Kumar, who won his first PSA World Tour title in July, won the first game after a scintillating 15-13 tie-break with both players playing consistently tight shots throughout the opening stages. However, with Kumar 2-1 up in the second game an injury to Al-Saraj brought about a premature end to the encounter to ensure that Kumar will participate in the main draw action on home soil.

Zahed Mohamed will be his opponent in the next round with Kumar hoping that his short match will enable him to recover sufficiently for what is sure to be a tough encounter for the youngster.

Elsewhere, number one seed Ammar Altamimi overcame a dogged challenge from Robert Downer to move through to the next stage. The pair played out an enthralling attacking match but unforced errors soon crept up on Downer who succumbed to a 3-0 defeat. Altamimi will face Greg Lobban in the first round of the main draw.

Sanjay Singh Chal has also progressed to the next round with a 3-1 defeat of Ravi Dixit. The Malaysian controlled the opening two games and, despite a resurgence from Dixit in the third, held his nerve to secure the result. He has a difficult fixture ahead of him against number one seed Marwan Elshorbagy as the duo do battle for a place in the quarter-final.

England’s Nathan Lake is the other qualifier to make it to the main draw action after sweeping past Edmon Lopez Moller in straight games. Cheltenham-born Lake will take on home hope Saurav Ghosal in round one of the main draw.

Results – Final Qualifying Draw: Kolkata International JSW Indian Squash Circuit 2015
[7] Kush Kumar (IND) bt [4] Ahmad Al-Saraj 2-0: 15-13, 2-1 (24 mins)
[3] Nathan Lake (ENG) bt [6] Edmon Lopez Moller (ESP) 3-0: 12-10, 11-6, 11-5 (46 mins)
[2] Sanjay Singh Chal (MAS) bt [8] Ravi Dixit (IND) 3-1: 11-5, 11-4, 10-12, 11-2 (38 mins)
[1] Ammar Altamimi (KUR) bt [5] Robert Downer (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 14-12, 11-9 (46 mins)

Main Draw – First Round
[1] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) v [Q] Sanjay Singh Chal (MAS)
Rex Hedrick (AUS) v [6] Olli Tuominen (FIN)
[8] Greg Lobban (SCO) v [Q] Ammar Altamimi (KUW)
[WC] Ramit Tandon (IND) v [4] Chris Simpson (ENG)
[3] Saurav Ghosal (IND) v [Q] Nathan Lake (ENG)
Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (IND) v [7] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND)
[5] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) v [Q] Kush Kumar (IND)
Ivan Yuen (MAS) v [2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA)