Indian eves bag bronze in squash team event

Guangzhou: Indian women’s squash team settled for a bronze medal in the Asian Games after slumping to a 0-2 defeat at the hands of favourites Malaysia in the semifinals here today.

The Indians were no match for the higher-ranked Malysians as as Anaka Alankamony was drubbed 0-3 Wee Wern Low in the
first tie before world number one Nicol Ann David defeated Joshna by an identical margin.

The Indian quartet of Joshna, Anaka, Dipika Pallikal and Anwesha Reddy had to be contend with the bronze medal along
with the Korean girls, who too suffered a 0-2 loss at the hands of Hong Kong in the other semifinal.

Malaysia and Hong Kong will clash for the gold medal in the Town Gymnasium tomorrow. In the lop-sided semifinal today, both the Indians failed to put up any resistance before their fancied opponents as Anaka was humiliated 2-11 4-11 6-11 by Low in 22 minutes.

The script was no different for Joshna as Nicol, the gold medallist in the individual event, ended the Indian’s challenge in just 18 minutes with a 11-4 11-2 11-3 victory which rendered the third and final tie between Anwesha and Delia Odette Arnold inconsequential.

The Indian men’s team will take on Pakistan in the semifinals of the team events later in the day.