India women’s team beat Hong Kong 2-1 while the men’s team lost to Pakistan 1-2 in the semifinals and settled for a bronze in the Asian team squash championship in Chinese Taipei on Saturday.
The women will now face Malaysia to whom they had lost in the group league. “It will be a revenge match. The girls are gearing up for this challenge,” said National coach Cyrus Poncha.
After Sachika Ingale lost to Liu Tsz Ling 11-6, 11-7, 11-2, Joshna beat Hong Kong’s top-ranked Annie Au in straight games 11-7, 13-11, 11-4 while Dipika Pallikal rallied from two games down to beat Joey Chan 10-12, 4-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6.
In the men’s section, Velavan Senthilkumar lost the opening match 11-5, 11-5, 5-11, 11-5 though he managed to win the third game against Pakistan’s experienced Farhan Mehboob. Harinder Pal Sandhu beat higher-ranked Farhan Zaman 14-16, 11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6 for India to pull back, but Kush Kumar went down 7-11, 13-11, 11-8, 13-15, 11-3 to Tayyab Aslam in the last match.
The results (semifinals): Men: India 1 lost to Pakistan 2 [Velavan Senthilkumar lost to Farhan Mehboob 11-5, 11-5, 5-11, 11-5; Harinder Pal Sandhu bt Farhan Zaman 14-16, 11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6; Kush Kumar lost to Tayyab Aslam 7-11, 13-11, 11-8, 13-15, 11-3].
Women: India 2 bt Hong Kong 1 [Sachika Ingale lost to Liu Tsz Ling 11-6, 11-7, 11-2; Joshna Chinappa bt Annie Au 11-7, 13-11, 11-4; Dipika Pallikal bt Joey Chan 10-12, 4-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6].
