Asian Games: Indian Men's Squash Team Enters Final; Women Sign Off With Bronze

The Indian team humbled defending champions Malaysia 2-0 to reach the final of the men's squash event after the seasoned Saurav Ghosal and Abhay Singh registered identical wins at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Friday. India thus set up a marquee gold medal clash with Pakistan, against whom they lost in the pool stage and will seek revenge heading into the final. Abhay Singh started the proceedings for India on a positive note, securing a 3-1 (11-3 12-10 9-11 11-6) win over Muhammad Addeen Idrakie Bin Bahtiar in the opening match. He took 57 minutes to ward off the challenge of Bin Bahtiar.

(Medals Tally | Asian Games 2023 Full Schedule)

The experienced Ghosal then got the better of Eain Yow NG 3-1 (11-8 11-6 12-10 11-3) in 69 minutes to wrap up the second semifinal in favour of India.

Mahesh Mangaonkar was not required to play his match against Mohammad Syafiq Bin Mohd Kamal.

The Indian men had settled for the bronze medal in the last edition of the Games in Indonesia.

Earlier, the Indian women's squash team signed off with a bronze medal after going down fighting to Hong Kong in the semifinals of the continental showpiece.

Joshna was the only Indian who won her match as she defeated world number 24 Tze Lok Ho 3-2 (7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8) to level the tie after Tanvi went down meekly (3-0) to Sin Yuk Chan in the opener.

"Sometimes it's just about hanging in there and fighting through. There were moments where that's exactly what I did. I didn't think too much about having a plan or a strategy. I knew today no matter what happens I had to keep fighting through," Joshna said.

Playing against high-ranked and experienced opponent in Lee Ka Yi, the 15-year-old Anahat then tried her best but was undone by her