New Delhi, Sep 16 - Bangalore's Sheethal Goutham fought back from a set down to beat fourth-seeded Isha Lakhani 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 and enter the quarter-finals of the $10,000 International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament at the DLTA stadium here Wednesday.

Sheethal next plays seventh-seeded Sanaa Bhambri who beat Germany's Jasmin Steinherr 6-4, 6-3.

Top seed Poojashree Venkatesha overcame initial onslaught from Japanese Moe Kawatoko to win 7-6(1), 6-0. She now plays sixth-seeded Israeli Karen Shlomo who beat Slovakian Dalila Jakupovic 6-3, 6-1.

In the other pre-quartefinal matches, eight-seeded Rushmi Chakravarthi beat France's Elodie Rogge-Dietrich 6-1, 6-2. Rusmi will meet compatriot Shivika Burman who beat Rishika Sunkara 6-4, 7-5.

It was Isha's first ever loss in her six meeting with 28-year-old Sheethal, who is making a comeback on the circuit after three years. In fact, it was only last month that Isha had beaten the Banglorean in straight sets.

But Sheethal hung on this day. Isha's compounding errors also made it easier for Sheethal to claw her way back after she lost the first set, being broken in the ninth game.