Two days after losing to Abdullah Almezayen in the men’s singles final, Saurav Ghosal beat him in the men’s team semi-finals at the Yeorumul Squash Courts here on Friday to lead India into the finals and assured at least a silver medal from the event. The women’s team, including Dipika Pallikal and Joshana Chinappa, too dispatched South Korea 2-0 in the semifinal to assure another silver.
Though it can’t be dubbed as revenge of his loss, Ghosal must be feeling a bit relieved after beating Abdullah in similar fashion. like Tuesday, the match was again decided in five sets but this time Ghosal got the better of Abdullah 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-3 to give India a 2-0 victory over Kuwait.
Friday’s twin victories meant that Indian squash contingent would have its best ever showing at the Asian Games with medals in all four categories of the event.
It was Chinappa who started the proceedings on a positive note blanking Eunok Park 11-6, 13-11, 11-8 in 34 minutes.
After that Pallikal, the world No 12, sealed the issue in India’s favour beating Sunmi Song 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5. She started well but suffered a mid-match lull to drop a game before she came back brilliantly to beat the Korean with a fluent finish as the Indian camp cheered the famed duo for the wonderful job done. Third Indian girl Anaka Alankamony did not have to appear on the court.
“It was a good win. It is always difficult to play against someone who is playing at home. She came back really hard in third set and so I just had to keep the race simple,” Dipika said after the match.
Indian women’s team plays Malaysia in the finals. “I think to come this far is unbelievable for us, so we are going to enjoy it. Tomorrow is a gold medal match, it’s a really good opportunity for us. So all of us are going to work on individual plans. Hopefully we can pull off a win tomorrow,” she said.
later, it was the men’s turn to enjoy a good in the glassed cage. Mangaonkar, who started the proceeding for the men’s event, hardly put a foot wrong and won the game in straight sets against Ammar Altamimi. Mangaonkar thrashed Ammar 3-0 (11-3, 11-4, 12-10) in just 37 minutes.
However, Ghosal, the world No.16, had to work hard for the win against Abdullah before prevailing 3-2 in the second rubber which went on for over one hour.
In the men’s draw, Mangaonkar started on the right foot as the Mumbai boy outplayed Kuwait's Altamimi Ammar 11-4, 11-3, 12-10.
The results (semifinals):
Women: India beat South Korea 2-0 (Joshna Chinappa bt Park Eunok 11—6, 13—11, 11—8; Dipika Pallikal bt Song Sunmi 11—4, 11—5, 8—11, 11—5).
Men: India beat Kuwait 2—0 (Mahesh Mangaonkar bt Ammar Altamimi 11—4, 11—3, 12—10; Saurav Ghosal bt Abdullah Almezayen 11—8, 7—11, 11—9, 5—11, 11—3).