India’s top men’s squash player Saurav Ghosal could not make a 2-1 lead count against World No. 1 Mohamed El Shorbagy, eventually losing the pre-quarterfinal against the Egyptian in five games at the $150000 Windy City Open here on Saturday.
World No. 21 Ghosal outplayed Shorbagy in the second and third game to take the lead before running out of steam to go down 5-11, 11-4, 11-1, 5-11, 7-11.
The Kolkata-based pro had suffered a similar five-game loss to then World No. 1 Gregory Gaultier at the El Gouna International in Egypt last April.
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Expressing his disappointment, Ghosal tweeted: “I lost 3-2...was 2-1 up. I’m sad beyond words. Almost beat the World No.1 but it’s killing me I didn’t. So disappointed.”
He had done well to beat higher-ranked Max Lee in the opening round.