Saurav Ghosal enters main draw of squash championship in US

New Delhi, Feb 24 (UNI) The only Indian to win a squash medal at the Asian Games, Saurav Ghosal entered the men's main draw at the 70,000 dollar Bear Sterns Tournament of Champions at New York.

Saurav, who won a bronze in the 15th Asian Games in Doha, qualified in the first round when he defeated David Barnett of England 11-8, 11-8, 11-8. The final round saw the young national champion swiftly reaching the main draw by defeating another Englishman Chris Simpson 11-4, 11-8, 11-8.

Commenting on this achievement, Cyrus Poncha, National coach Squash Racquet Federation of India (SRFI) said, ''It is indeed remarkable and we at the ICL Squash Academy are feeling elated because of this success.'' Being held in the Grand Central Terminal in New York, Bear Sterns Tournament of Champions is one of the biggest Squash tournaments in US and also one of the most prestigious events on the international PSA Tour. The tournament boasts of a special four-walled glass court specially constructed just 24 hours before the event, where Saurav will be playing his first round tomorrow.

This is Saurav's second main draw appearance in a super series event after reaching the main draw in the Pakistan Open in November 2006.

UNI