Saurav Ghoshal thread - PB WR # 10 in Apr 2019

[suresh]

One of these days, we might beat an Egyptian in squash. When will that day come?

Maybe when we beat Iran in volleyball....

In fact, I was thinking of Iran in volleyball as I was typing the comment.

[jaydeep]

Saurav lost against Elshorbagy in straight games but he gave a decent fight in this match ... The match's duration was 50 minutes and after losing the first game cheaply Saurav raised his game, he had a couple of game balls in the third which he failed to convert.

At $335K PSA Men's World Championship 2019, Doha, Qatar (World Tour Platinum)

[PQF] (10) Saurav Ghosal (IND,11) l (1) Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY,2) 6-11 8-11 12-14 (50m)

[jaydeep]

As per the report, Saurav played one of the best squash of his life in the quarters against ElShorbagy ... Last week, ElShorbagy defeated Saurav in 3 games at the World Championship ... But here, he has tested the top seed Mohamed ElShorbagy to the limit, he had a match ball before losing the match in extra points in the decider.

At $106K Men's Channel VAS Championship 2019, Weybridge, Surrey, England (World Tour Gold)

[R1] (7) Saurav Ghosal (IND,11) bye
[R2] (7) Saurav Ghosal (IND,11) bt (9/16) Tom Richards (ENG,26) 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (37m)

[QF] (7) Saurav Ghosal (IND,11) l (1) Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY,2) 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 12-10, 10-12 (85m)

They r calling this as one of the best matches of the last year ... Both players played a fast and accurate squash ... In the decider, Saurav was 2-8 down and he caught with Elshorbagy at 9-all and had a match ball at 10-9 but wrong shot selection cost him a win.

If possible, watch this complete match of almost 90 mins, sharing highlights of the match.
Channel VAS Championship 2019 - QF Roundup

[suresh]

Like Iran in volleyball, some things are inevitable

Well done Saurav.

[SaniaFan]

Like Iran in volleyball, some things are inevitable

I hope Sourav is not reading this. How depressing it would be to read this from fans after you play one of the best matches of your life.

Well done Sourav, you are very close!!! Onwards!!!

[suresh]

Like Iran in volleyball, some things are inevitable

I hope Sourav is not reading this. How depressing it would be to read this from fans after you play one of the best matches of your life.

I totally agree with you. I hope Sourav is not reading the nonsense that I, a casual fan, am spouting. I was not trying to demean his performance in any way.

[jayakris]

Yeah, this is nothing against Sourav at all. Just like our frequent mentioning of India losing to Iran in Volleyball, that is not at all taking a dig at the current team. It is a long-time record from many past players and teams, that we are referring to. Of course, all of us are always rooting for our guys to put an end to that history! One of these days it will happen. I hope our players will take it as a challenge and will shut us up, which we ourselves are dying to see happen.

[PKBasu]

The moment may be here soon, when Saurav beats a top Egyptian -- perhaps even THE top Egyptian -- in a big squash tournament. Our guy has slowly got better, and he needs to play these guys more often.

[jaydeep]

Saurav lost the final of the Pittsburgh Open to the top-seed Fares Dessouky in his straight games ... Before that, he scored a couple of impressive wins over the top-25 Salazar and the WR #16 Omar Mosaad ... In the final, he is facing the top-seed Fares Dessouky.

At $52.5K Men's Pittsburgh Open 2020, Pittsburgh, USA (World Tour Bronze)

[R1] (9/16) Ramit Tandon (IND,46) l Nathan Lake (ENG,55) 3-11 1-6 retd. (12m)
[R1] (2) Saurav Ghosal (IND,13) bye

[R2] (2) Saurav Ghosal (IND,13) bt Nathan Lake (ENG,55) 11-13, 14-12, 11-6, 11-9 (66m)
[QF] (2) Saurav Ghosal (IND,13) bt (6) Cesar Salazar (MEX,23) 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 (40m)
[SF] (2) Saurav Ghosal (IND,13) bt (5) Omar Mosaad (EGY,16) 11-6, 16-18, 11-7, 12-10 (73m)

[F] (2) Saurav Ghosal (IND,13) l (1) Fares Dessouky (EGY,11) 7-11, 4-11, 9-11 (34m)

[suresh]

The moment may be here soon, when Saurav beats a top Egyptian -- perhaps even THE top Egyptian -- in a big squash tournament. Our guy has slowly got better, and he needs to play these guys more often.

Yes, that moment has arrived. He has beaten Omar Mosaad in the SF of the Pittsburgh Open.

[PKBasu]

Sadly, not really ! He beat a lower-ranked Egyptian, but lost to the Egyptian who was ranked just above him. He needs to start winning those matches, and then slice through to the top Egyptians...

[rajitghosh]

Sourav Ghosal has announced his retirement. He was definitely India's greatest ever male squash player.

[PKBasu]

Yes, it seemed inevitable although he was still playing very well. His father hinted at it when I ran into him a couple of months ago. Undoubtedly India's greatest male squash player to-date.