18th Asian Games: Squash Saves Day For India
18th Asian Games: Squash Saves Day For India Three bronze medals in Squash were all India could get on seventh day of the 18th Asian Games on Saturday. Saurav Ghoshal, one of most experienced Squash player of the country, who had won India's first ever medal, a bronze, in the sport, way back in 2006, squandered away two set lead to lose to Au Ching Ming of Hong Kong 2-3 to go out of race for the gold medal. Saurav Ghosal, "Dada" to his friends, was a silver medallist in the 2014 Asian games. Other than Saurav, both women Squash players - Dipipika Pallikal and Joshana Chinappa - too lost their semi-final encounters and had to content with bronze medals each. With three bronze medals, India took its medals tally to six gold, five silver, and 17 bronze medals. Other than Squash, it was a mixed day for India. There was a break in India's medal hunt in shooting. Two shooters on view - Commonwealth games gold medallist Anish Bhanwala and Shivam Shukla - failed to qualify for the final in 25 m Rapid Fire pistol. Shuttlers Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu kept medals hopes alive with their comfortable wins in women's singles. Saina Nehwal beat Fitriani of Indonesia 21-6, 21-14 while PV Sindhu got the better of Gregoria Tunjung, also of Indonesia, at 21-12, 21-15. The lone women's doubles pair of India of Ashwani Ponappa and NS Reddy lost its quarter final encounter to Y. Jia and Q Chen of China 11-21, 22-24. Pavitra raised hopes of a medal in women's boxing when she beat Parveen Ruksana of Pakistan in 60 kg category. In weightlifting for men, India's challenge ended without a medal as the last hope Vikas Thakur finished eighth in 94 kg with a total lift of 335 kg, 16 kg below his own lift of 351 kg in Commonwealth Games. Also Read: 18th Asian Games: Indians Shoot Two Silvers, Korea Shock India In Men's Kabaddi In Archery, both men and women teams lost their Recurve quarter-finals to bow out of contention for a medal. In Handball for women, India had some consolation as it beat Malaysia 54-19 to finish ninth.
