Dipika Pallikal assured India of a maiden women's singles squash medal in the Asian Games, while top seed Saurav Ghosal confirmed his third successive podium finish in men's singles after the two reached the semi-finals of their respective events in Incheon on Sunday.
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Dipika triumphed in an all-Indian battle against senior pro Joshana Chinappa 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 15-17, 11-9.
‘Unfortunate draw’
The women's match turned out to be a pulsating contest as expected. In a roller-coaster battle, Joshana clinched the opening game 11-7 in just nine minutes but Dipika bounced back to draw level.
Dipika did not give up and fought back brilliantly to outwit Joshana 11-9 in the decisive fifth game.
Both Joshana and Dipika had called the draw ‘unfortunate’ and the former had even considered a pullout claiming ‘manipulation’.
‘Had to be really solid against a very determined opponent’
Ghosal, on the other hand, defeated Pakistan's Iqbal Nasir 11-6, 9-11, 11-2, 11-9 in a contest, which lasted 58 minutes at the Yeorumul Squash Courts.
Ghosal, the 28-year-old Asia No 1, took control of the proceedings quite early and barring a minor slip, he was clinical in sealing the issue in his favour.
After losing the second game, Ghosal took the third game in mere eight minutes and even though Nasir put up a fight in the fourth, the Indian held his nerve to seal the issue.
"I won my match 3-1 today! I had to be really solid against a very determined opponent," Ghosal tweeted after the tie.
India has so far won four medals (all bronze) at the Asian Games since the sport was introduced in the 1998 Bangkok edition. Two of them have come courtesy Ghosal and the rest in men's and women's team event.
