Asian Games | India secure three bronze medals in squash

India settle for three bronze medals from the singles event in Squash of the Asian Games with all the three semi-finalists losing out on Saturday according to the national coach Cyrus Poncha. The wait now is for the team competitions which should get underway in two days time.

The first to taste defeat was Dipika Pallikal Karthik, seeded ¾, in the women's singles but it seemed an expected result for the victor was none other than the top seed and Malaysian legend Nicol David. The scores 11-7, 11-9, 11-6 will not portray the fight Dipika gave to Nicol but the fact was there were several moments in the moments when the exchanges looked even. Always a player who knows to edge one step ahead of her opponent, Nicol ensured the end stages were hers as she wrapped up the match in a little over half hour.

As for Joshna Chinappa, seeded ¾ and Saurav Ghosal, the top seed men's player, the result was unexpected for the two lost to lower ranked and lower seeded opponents. Joshna lost to the enterprising Malaysian 19-year old Sivasangari Subramaniam, seeded 5/8 in four games. The Malaysian won 12-10,11-6, 9-11, 11-7. Joshna's struggle was indicative in the very first game where despite leading 9-7, fell to the wiles of the young opponent. From there the Indian hardly could rise even if she grabbed a game.

Saurav lost to ¾ seed Au Chun Ming of Hong Kong. The Indian had a 2-0 game advantage but the Hong Kong player showed his staying ability and worked his way up to a remarkable win over five games 10-12, 11-13, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6, the match lasting over one and quarter hours.