Squash trio returns with best-ever haul
I am hopeful that we would be doing our best in team event. I tried my best to challenge Nicol, but things didn’t happen as per my wish. DIPIKA PALLIKAL, squash medallist
Indian squash players on Saturday celebrated their best-ever haul in singles at the Asian Games, bagging three bronze medals, at the GBK Squash Stadium here. Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Joshna Ponappa (women’s singles) and Saurav Ghosal (men’s singles) bagged a bronze medal each.
Had Ghosal not lost control over his semi-final against Ming Chun of Hong Kong, India could have sealed even a silver medal. India won four medals in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games: men’s team gold, silver in women’s team, silver in men’s singles and bronze in women’s singles.
Dipika, bronze medallist in 2014, was the first to exit, losing 7-11, 9-11, 6-11 to four-time Asian Games gold medallist and defending champion Nicol David of Malaysia. She was followed by Joshna, who went down fighting 10-12, 6-11, 11-9, 7-11 to her younger Malaysian opponent Sivasangari Subramaniam.
However, the day’s biggest disappointment came from Saurav, who squandered a 2-0 lead against Chun. The scoreline 12-10, 13-11, 6-11, 5-11 and 6-11 is enough to let one understand how Saurav missed a final berth in a thriller.
PAVITRA IN LAST EIGHT
JAKARTA: Pavitra registered a comprehensive win over Pakistan’s Rukhsana Perveen to proceed to the quarterfinals of women’s 60 kg weight category on Saturday. Pavitra dominated the bout that saw the scoreline reading 10-8 in her favour after the referees were forced to stop the competition even before the opening round ended. SAYALI OUT OF DANGER
PALEMBANG: Rower Sayali Shelake will have to stay in Palembang for another seven days after undergoing an operation for intestinal blockage. Shelake was hospitalised on Friday after she complained of pain in the abdomen. “She is out of danger. She got operated in the nick of time else it could have been worse. She will be here for seven days. Two officials will be with her at all times,” an official said.