Hangzhou Asian Games: India upstage Pakistan to win gold in men’s team squash | Asian Games 2023 News

NEW DELHI: Top seeds India achieved a remarkable victory over their traditional rivals Pakistan in a thrilling showdown to claim the gold medal in the men’s team squash event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Saturday.
The standout performer of the day was Abhay Singh, hailing from Chennai, who displayed remarkable composure and elevated his game to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over Noor Zaman in a roller-coaster final match.

In this nail-biting decider, the 25-year-old Indian managed to save two gold medal points, ultimately emerging victorious and jubilantly tossing his racquet into the air.
Saurav Ghosal, a seasoned player, played a pivotal role in bringing the Indian team back into contention with a convincing 3-0 win over Muhammad Asim Khan. This crucial victory followed Mahesh Mangaonkar‘s initial setback, as he lost the opening match to Iqbal Nasir by an identical margin.

This victory allowed India to avenge their previous defeat to the same opponent during the league stage of this edition of the continental tournament.
Zaman, ranked 113, had gotten the better of world number 69 Abhay in that contest earlier this week and for the major part of the match on Saturday, it looked going in Pakistan’s favour again.
With the final locked at 1-1 after Ghosal and Nasir Iqbal won their respective singles, the gold was going to be decided in the match between 25-year-old Abhay and teenager Zaman.
Zaman led 9-7 in the fourth game and had two match balls at 10-8 in the deciding game but the Indian somehow managed to turn it around for a memorable win. The final scoreline read 11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10.

“We should have won three nights ago also as we were the better team. I am happy that we won today. No time for celebrations as have got matches tomorrow,” said Abhay.
The athleticism from players was remarkable as the contest involved breathtaking rallies and winners. Zaman had the younger legs but was guilty of making more unforced errors than his opponent.
“Considering the circumstances, it was surely the biggest win of Abhay’s career,” said Ghosal, the highest-ranked Indian at 19.
Not a lot is known about Abhay who turned professional back in 2017 but that should change after Saturday. After he levelled the match 2-2, it was clear that he did not need a lot of coaching from his teammates. In his first Asian Games, he knew what he was doing.
It was a tough loss to swallow for the young Zaman who was seen weeping after a 64-minute marathon.
Abhay’s special effort came after the seasoned Ghosal brought the Indians back into the contest with a 11-5, 11-1, 11-3 win over Muhammad Asim Khan.
Mahesh Mangaonkar lost the opener to Iqbal Nasir 8-11, 2-11. 3-11.
India last won a men’s team squash gold in the 2014 edition of the games in Incheon, while the Pakistanis last claimed gold in 2010 in Guangzhou.
Ghosal, playing his sixth Asian Games, will now shift his focus to winning a maiden gold in the individual competition, having tallied three bronze and a silver in singles since Busan 2002.
(With PTI Inputs)
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