Local hero Saurav Ghosal had an unexpectedly easy run through to the semi-finals of the Kolkata International after his opponent was forced to withdraw midway through today's quarter-final match in the PSA World Tour International 35 squash event at Calcutta Racket Club in Kolkata.
The Kolkata-born world No24 was leading qualifier Amr Khaled Khalifa 11-8, 6-2 when the reigning world junior champion conceded the match due to congestion in his chest.
It will be a fresher-than-anticipated Ghosal, the 24-year-old fourth seed, who will now face top seed Karim Darwish for a place in the final. The world No3 from Cairo was fully tested by younger compatriot Mohd Ali Anwar Reda before emerging the 11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 12-10 victor after 73 minutes.
Ghosal will go into the match 6/0 down in his career head-to-head record against former world number one Darwish - hoping that his 'fresh' legs may give him the edge this time.
The other semi-final will be a surprise all-Egyptian contest after unseeded Karim Abdel Gawad upset Malaysia's No3 seed Ong Beng Hee 12-14, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 in just under an hour.
The Alexandria-born 19-year-old will now line up against second seed Omar Mosaad, the world No16 from Cairo who beat Englishman Robbie Temple 11-8, 11-6, 11-7.
RESULTS: PSA International 35 Kolkata International, Kolkata, India
Quarter-finals:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 12-10 (73m)
[4] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [Q] Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) 11-8, 6-2 ret.
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [3] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 12-14, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (55m)
[2] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Robbie Temple (ENG) 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 (37m)
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) v [4] Saurav Ghosal (IND)
[2] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)