Pallikal downs Urquhart in ToC quarters!

Dipika Pallikal (IND) beat Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9 in the quarter-finals of the Tournament of Champions 2012 (photo: Steve Line)

The quarter final round gave audiences at Grand Central Station surprising result of the WSA Tournament of Champions, as New Zealand’s Jaclyn Hawkes ended hopes of an all-Grinham final after beating the elder sister Rachael in 3 games 11-3, 11-8, 11-5. However, her sister Natalie beat Sarah Kippax of England in 3, despite a closely fought final game 11-3, 11-4, 12-10.

The 16-year-old Nour El Sherbini won the battle of the unseeded players for a place in the semi-finals, as Egyptian teenager ended home hopes by beating Latasha Khan 11-6, 13-11, 11-3. Reigning Indian champion Dipika Pallikal (pic le) then caused an upset of as the No7 seed got the better of No4 seed Donna Urquhart (pic ri) of Australia in an intense 5-game battle (11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9) lasting over an hour.