Incheon, Sep 26 (PTI) Indian squash players continued their splendid showing in the ongoing Asian Games with both the men’s and women’s teams assuring the country of at least two more silver medals after winning their respective semi-final matches at the Yeorumul Courts, here today.
If the women’s team comprising Joshna Chinappa, Dipika Pallikal and Anaka Alankamony outplayed their Singapore opponents 2-0 then Mahesh Mangaonkar, Saurav Ghosal and Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu also eased past Kuwait 2-0.
Joshna started the proceedings on a positive note as the Chennai ace blanked Eunok Park 11-6 13-11 11-8 in 34 minutes.
Next up was Dipika and though the World No.12 lost a game, she got past Sunmi Song 11-4 11-5 8-11 11-5 to make it easy for the Indian team. Anaka did not have to appear on court.
In the men’s draw, Mangaonkar started on the right foot as the Mumbai boy outplayed Kuwait’s Altamimi A I A Ammar 11-4 11-3 12-10 in 37 minutes.
Ghosal then took on Almezayen Abdullah in a marathon encounter to finally come up trumps 11-8 7-11 11-9 5-11 11-3 in one hour and two minutes to seal the match. Sandhu’s final effort was not needed in the match.
Ghosal has already added a historic silver to the medal list — a first in the Asian Games squash — in the men’s singles event, though the Kolkata-born player was disappointed to lose the gold to Kuwait’s Abdullah Almezayen.
Dipika, on the other hand, has won a bronze medal in the women’s singles event, also a first for Indian squash.