The 19th edition of the Asian Games takes place in Hangzhou, China, with the Squash event – singles, doubles and team – from 26th Sep to 5th Oct …
Comeback wins for India and Malaysia to take Asian Games Teams Gold
The first Asian Games Squash Gold medals were decided as India’s men and Malaysia’s women both came from a match down to claim the top medals in Hangzhou.
Top seeds Hong Kong took the lead in the women’s final as Tong Tsz Wing won in five games, but Siva Subramaniam levelled and Aifa Azman took the decider in four games to give Malaysia the title.
The men’s final was a repeat of the pool clash which saw Pakistan beat top seeds India. Today it was India’s turn to triumph though. Nasir Iqbal put Pakistan ahead, Saurav Ghosal levelled for India, then Abhay Singh won a thrilling decider, saving two match balls in the fifth before taking the match for India.
“If this the last Asian Games for any of us, this one is for them,” said Singh. “I have to do something for them, for all the sacrifices they have put in to be here, to send them out in a good way. It’s for them but most importantly for my country.”
Men’s : [4] Pakistan 1-2 [1] India
. Nasir Iqbal 3-0 Mahesh Mangaonkar 11-8, 11-3, 11-2 (29m)
. Muhammad Asim Khan 0-3 Saurav Ghosal 5-11, 1-11, 3-11 (30m)
. Noor Zaman 2-3 Abhay Singh 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 10-12 (64m)
Women’s Final :
[1] Hong Kong 1-2 [2] Malaysia
. Tong Tsz Wing 3-2 Rachel Arnold 7-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6 (57m)
. Ho Tze Lok 0-3 Siva Subramaniam 5-11, 8-11, 6-11 (26m)
. Chan Sin Yuk 1-3 Aifa Azman 5-11, 8-11, 13-11, 8-11 (36m)
Silver and Bronze for Hong Kong
Hindustan Times : India’s stunning comeback win
Day Four : Team Finalists decided in Hangzhou
Pakistan and India will contest the Men’s final after beating Hong Kong and India in the semi-finals.
Pakistan followed up their upset win over top seeds India in the pool stages with a 2-1 win over Hong Kong, Nasir Iqbal winning the deciding match to put Pakistan into the final for the first time in four editions.
India took on second seeds an defending champions Malaysia, with Abhay Singh and Saurav Ghosal winning to set up a repeat clash with Pakistan in the final.
The Women’s final will be between top seeds Hong Kong and Malaysia after semi-final wins over India and Korea. At one-all between Hong Kong and India, it was Lee Ka Yi who claimed the crucial win, although not before Indian teenager Anahat Singh had saved eight match balls in the third game.
Men’s Semis :
[4] Pakistan 2-1 [3] Hong Kong
. Noor Zaman 3-1 Henry Leung 12-10, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8
. Muhammad Asim Khan 2-3 Alex Lau 11-8, 12-14, 12-10, 4-11, 2-11
. Nasir Iqbal 3-0 Tang Ming Hong 11-3, 11-5, 11-5
[2] Malaysia 0-2 [1] India
. Addeen Idrakie 1-3 Abhay Singh 3-11, 10-12, 11-9, 6-11
. Eain Yow Ng 1-3 Saurav Ghosal 8-11, 6-11, 12-10, 3-11
Women’s Semis :
[1] Hong Kong 2-1 [3] India
. Chan Sin Yuk 3-0 Tanvi Khanna 11-6, 11-7, 11-3
. Ho Tze Lok 2-3 Joshna Chinappa 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 6-11, 8-11
. Lee Ka Yi 3-0 Anahat Singh 11-8, 11-7, 12-10
[2] Malaysia 2-0 [5] Korea
. Aifa Zzman 3-0 Hawyeong Eum 11-4, 11-1, 11-8
. Siva Subramanian 3-0 Jihyun Lee 11-4, 11-4, 11-5
Day Three : Semi-final lineups settled
The final day of Pool matches in Hangzhou saw the team semi-final lineups settled.
In Men’s Pool A Pakistan completed a clean sweep of win to finish top while India took second spot with a 3-0 win over Nepal.
In the Pool B decider Malaysia beat Hong Kong to finish top, so in the semis they’ll meet India while Hong Hong face Pakistan.
In Women’s Pool A Korea edged Japan to claim the last semi-final spot – they’ll meet Malaysia while Hong Kong take on India.
Men’s Pool A : 1st Pakistan, 2nd India
Pakistan 3-0 Kuwait, India 3-0 Nepal, Qatar 1-2 Singapore
Men’s Pool B : 1st Malaysia, 2nd Hong Kong
Malaysia 2-1 Hong Kong, Japan 1-2 Korea, Philippines 3-0 Thailand
Women’s Pool A : 1st Hong Kong, 2nd Korea
Korea 2-1 Japan, Thailand 3-0 Mongolia
Women’s Pool B : 1st Malaysia, 2nd India
Malaysia 3-0 India, Macau 2-1 Pakistan
Indian Express : Anahat Singh primed to climb ladder of success
Day Two : Pakistan stun top seeds India in men’s pools
The second day of pool action saw more wins for the men’s and women’s top seeds, with one significant upset as fourth-seeded Pakistan beat top seeds India 2-1 to make it four wins in Pool A, from which three teams could still reach the semis. In Pool B Malaysia and Hong Kong are through to the last four.
In the women’s event Malaysia, India and Hong Kong are through to the semis. Malaysia and India will play for top spot in Pool B while Japan and Korea will meet to decide the last semi-final spot.
Thursday’s Day Three will see the semi-final lineups decided in the final rounds of Pool matches.
Men’s Pool A :
India 3-0 Kuwait, Pakistan 3-0 Singapore, Qatar 3-0 Nepal,
Kuwait 3-0 Qatar, India 1-2 Pakistan, Singapore 3-0 Nepal
Men’s Pool B :
Malaysia 3-0 Japan, Hong Kong 3-0 Philippines, Korea 3-0 Thailand
Malaysia 3-0 Thailand, Korea 2-1 Philippines, Hong Kong 3-0 Japan
Women’s Pool A :
Hong Kong 3-0 Korea, Japan 3-0 Mongolia, Hong Kong 2-1 Japan, Korea 3-0 Thailand
Women’s Pool B :
Malaysia 3-0 Macau, India 3-0 Macau, Pakistan 3-0 Nepal
New Straits Times : Malaysian teams both reach the semis
Geosuper : Pakistan beat India to reach semis
Day One : Top seeds off to solid starts
The Squash competition got under way with the opening rounds of Team matches, with the top seeds all recording wins.
In the Men’s pools the top three in each pool – India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Pakistan and Kuwait – all notched up two wins, while women’s top seeds Hong Kong, Malaysia, India and Japan all started with wins.
Men’s Pool A :
India 3-0 Singapore, Kuwait 3-0 Nepal, Pakistan 2-1 Qatar
Pakistan 3-0 Nepal, India 3-0 Qatar, Kuwait 2-1 Singapore
Men’s Pool B :
Hong Kong 3-0 Korea, Malaysia 3-0 Philippines, Japan 3-0 Thailand
Hong Kong 3-0 Thailand, Japan 3-0 Philippines, Malaysia 3-0 Korea
Womens Pool A :
Japan 3-0 Thailand, Korea 3-0 Mongolia, Hong Kong 3-0 Thailand
Women’s Pool B :
India 3-0 Pakistan, Malaysia 3-0 Nepal, Malaysia 3-0 Pakistan, Macau 3-0 Nepal
Competition Format
Teams : 26-30 Sep – pools through to semis
Women’s
Pool A : [1] Hong Kong, [4] Japan, [5] Korea, [8] Thailand, [9] Mongolia
Pool B : [2] Malaysia, [3] India, [6] Macau, [7] Pakistan, [10] Nepal
Men’s
Pool A : [1] India, [4] Pakistan, [5] Kuwait, [8] Qatar, [9] Singapore, [12] Nepal
Pool B : [2] Malaysia, [3] Hong Kong, [6] Japan, [7] Korea, [10] Philippines, [11] Thailand
Mixed Doubles : 01-05 Oct – pools through to quarters
Singles : 01-05 Oct, 32-player draws
Women’s top seeds :
[1] Satomi Watanabe (Jpn), [2] Ho Tze Lok (Hkg), [3/4] Siva Subramanaim (Mas), Chan Sin Yuk (Hkg)
Men’s top seeds :
[1] Eain Yow Ng (Mas), [2] Saurav Ghosal (Ind), [3/4] Alex Lau (Hkg), Abdulla al Tamimi (Qat)
Full Draws and Schedules Official Games site
Asian Games Press Previews
Malay Mail | TIMES OF INDIA | MALAYSIA NST
Saurav Ghosal targeting two gold medals at Hangzhou Asian Games
SINGAPORE TEAM
