Asian Games 2018: India assured of more medals after three Squash players reach semi-finals

India was assured of three more medals at the 18^th Asian Games after Saurav Ghosal, Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa advanced into the semi-finals of the men’s and women’s Squash event respectively in Jakarta on Friday.

Top Indian seed and 2014 silver medallist Saurav showed little mercy in defeating compatriot Harinder Pal Sandhu 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 in the men’s singles quarterfinal to progress.  But it was Sandhu who had begun well, winning the first game as memories of the 29-year-old beating the favourite Ghosal to win the National Championships four years ago started doing the rounds. It in the end though proved to be infertile, with Ghosal establishing his dominance with another convincing victory. He came back from being a game down to win the next three sets with identical scores.

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“It was top quality Squash with both players stretched to the limits,” national head coach Cyrus Poncha was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

In the women’s category, Dipika broke little sweat in overcoming Kobayashi Misaki of Japan 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 in straight sets to seal a top-four berth. The world number 19, who won the silver four years ago at the Inchon Games will take on Nicol David for a place in the women’s singles final.

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Meanwhile, Joshna started well before losing the third set and winning the last to be assured of at least a bronze medal. She defeated Chan Ho Ling of Hong Kong 11-5, 12-10, 5-11, 12-10 to ensure he medal at the Asiad.

After convincingly winning the first and somehow scrapping through the second, Joshna went down the in the third set having conceded several unforced errors against a fighting Chan. Then in the deciding game, she quickly raced to a 7-4 lead before the Hong Kong player levelled the scores. But Joshna showed her class to eventually pull off the victory.

With three medals assured, this remains India’s best performance in the singles event of the intercontinental competition bettering the record of two medals won at Incheon four years ago.