Dipika Pallikal reaches Australian Open final

Out to gain a good work out before the forthcoming World Doubles Squash Championship in Darwin, Dipika had a comfortable first round against wild card Jessica Turnbull (AUS) winning 11-1, 11-5, 11-8, but she conceded the opening game to Misaki Kobayashi, the seventh seed from Japan, in the quarter-final before winning 6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6. Sachika Ingle was the only other Indian woman player who had taken part, but she could not cross the qualification stage.

A host of Indians were there in the men's section, including Harinder Pal Sandhu who is also featuring in the World Doubles. Sandhu was seeded sixth and went past two opponents, Elvinn Keo (MAS) and Evan Williams (NZL) in the first two rounds, before third seed Abdulla al Tamini of Qatar downed him in the quarters.

Kush Kumar went out retired in the earlier round. Ravi Dixit showed a lot of character in a terrific comeback from two games down in the first round (Patrick Miescher of Switzerland), but he was unfortunate to meet the second seed (Campbell Grayzon of New Zealand) in the second round, where he faced the exit. Gulf-based Sandeep Ramachandran, who has been doing a heavy tour of professional tournaments in Australia, fought his way up the qualification phase, but lasted just one round in the main draw.

The results: Harinder Pal Sandhu : Ist rd: bt Elvinn Keo (MAS) 11-5, 11-4, 12-10; 2nd: bt Evan Williams (NZL) 12-10, 11-5, 11-6; quarters: lost to Abdulla al Tamini (QAT) 12-10, 8-11, 10-12,7-11; Kush Kumar: bt Nathan Turnbull (AUS) 11-7, 4-11, 11-5, 11-8; lost to Joel Makin (WAL) 7-11, 8-11, 1-4 rtd; Ravi Dixit bt Patrick Miescher (SUI) 8-11, 11-13 11-8, 13-11,12-10; lost to Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11-6, 11-7, 11-5; Sandeep Ramachandan lost to Zac Alexander (AUS) 5-11, 7-11, 7-11