Asian Games: Heartbreak for Ghosal; Joshna, Dipika too settle for bronze

Jakarta: It was a tale of missed chances for India as their campaign in the individual events of the Asian Games squash competition came to a grinding halt in the semifinals here on Saturday.

Sourav Ghosal threw away a two-game advantage to go down to AU Chun Ming of Hong Kong 12-10, 13-11, 6-11, 5-11, 6-11 in the men's singles semifinal.

World No. 12 Ghosal played the big points well to clinch the hard-fought first two games before Ming turned it around.

Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal missed out on a chance to script history as they fell in the semifinals. Both Dipika and Joshna had to settle for a bronze after losing to Nicol David and Sivasangari Subramaniam respectively.

World No. 16 Joshna was stunned by Sivasangari, who ensured that it will be an all-Malaysian final on Sunday.

Joshna lost a hard-fought opening game 10-12. The teenager breezed through the second game winning it 11-6. Though the experienced Joshna fought back to claim the third 11-9, it was all over as Sivasangari claimed the fourth 11-7.

Earlier, Joshna’s teammate Dipika found Nicol too hot to handle. The four-time Asian Games singles gold medallist proved her class as she won 11-7, 11-9, 11-6 . The loss meant Dipika had to be content with the bronze medal for the second successive Games.

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