Joshna, Anaka move to quarters of Chennai Open

Chennai: In-form Indian players Joshna Chinappa and Anaka Alakamony progressed to the quarter-finals of the Chennai Open Squash Championship after winning their respective matches, here on Wednesday.

Joshna dropped a game before beating Nouran Ahmed Gohar of Egypt 11-8 11-9 5-11 11-7 while Anaka got the better of Zulhijah Binti Azan (Malaysia) 4-11, 11-0, 11-5, 4-11, 11-8 in 45 minutes. However, the three Indian qualifiers including the current national junior Champion Harshit Kaur of Delhi bowed out of the tournament after suffering defeats. Ashita, a school going kid, went down in straight games to sixth seed Carrie Ramsey of England while Harshit Kaur, the current under-15 champion, went down fighting in a close tie against Malaysia`s Pushpa Devi, who won 11-8, 12-10, 12-10. Harshit fought hard but the Malaysian girls experience helped her to close win. Following is the quarterfinal line up: Siti Munirah Jusoh (Mas) vs Anaka Alankamony (Ind) Sarah Jane Perry (Eng) vs Victoria Bell (Eng) Saima Hanny Ibrahim Ahmed (Egy) vs Pushpa Devi (Malaysia) Carrie Ramsey (Eng) vs Joshna Chinappa (Ind). Results of first round pre-quarterfinal matches: Siti Munirah Jusoh (1), MAS, def. Saai Meera, IND, 11-4 11-1 12-10. Anaka Alankamony, IND, def. Zulhijjah Binti Azan (7), MAS, 9-11 11-0 11-5 4-11 11-8 . Sarah Jane Perry (3), ENG, def. Jessica Turnbull, AUS, 11-4 11-2 11-6. Victroria Bell (8), ENG, def. Lakshya Ragavendran, IND, 11-8 11-3 11-6 . Salma Hany Ibrahim Ahmed (5), EGY, def. Mariam Ibrahim Metwally, EGY, 11-6 6-11 14-12 10-12 11-5 . Pushpa Devi (4), MAS, def. Harshit Kaur Jawanda, IND, 11-8 12-10 12-10 . Carrie Ramsey (6), ENG, def. Ashita Bhengra, IND, 11-5 11-0 11-2 . Joshna Chinappa (2), IND, def. Nouran Ahmed Gohar, EGY, 11-8 11-9 5-11 11-7. PTI