Ghosal returns to action at Australian Open
Sidelined with a foot injury since April, India's leading squash player Saurav Ghosal will return to the glass-court at the Australian Open beginning on Monday in Canberra.
Sidelined with a foot injury since April, India's leading squash player Saurav Ghosal will return to the glass-court at the Australian Open beginning on Monday in Canberra.
A fit-again Ghosal, ranked 26th in the world, will take on local challenger Stewart Bosewell (ranked 21) in the opener of the PSA World Series Platinum event.
If he manages to get past him, world number two Ramy Ashour will be waiting for him in the second round.
"I will have to play well to win my first round against Boswell. I lost to him in New York in January, but I'm hoping to reverse the result this time and come out victorious."
"Regarding Ramy, I'm not thinking that far ahead. I'm going to take it one match at a time. Boswell is a highly accomplished player and hopefully, if I can get past him, I will turn my attention to Ramy," Ghosal said.
The Australian Open is a top-flight event on the world circuit and all the leading players, including world number one Nick Matthew, number three Karim Darwish, will be competing in the event.
Ghosal is the lone Indian participating in the third PSA World Series event of the year.
"I have given myself enough time to prepare. The Australian Open is my first PSA event since getting injured. I love playing the big events and I'm looking forward to the Australian Open," he said.
The 24-year-old had been recuperating in Leeds, England from a freak injury he suffered in the semifinals of the Irish Open against Egyptian Tarik Momen in April. The Kolkatan was on the verge of winning the match when he twisted his ankle while trying to manufacture a shot.
An MRI scan had revealed the seriousness of the injury.
Talking about the future assignments, he said, "I will be leading the Indian team at the World Men's Team Championships (21-27 August) in Paderborn, Germany. I really hope we do well as a team and finish towards the top of the standings."
"After that I will be participating in the ROWE British Grand Prix Squash Championship in Manchester to be held from September 19-25."