Asian Games: Saurav Ghosal becomes first Indian to reach squash finals
Incheon: Saurav Ghosal became the first Indian to enter the Asian Games final, beating 2006 champion Ong Beng Hee while Dipika Pallikal secured the country her maiden women's singles medal, a bronze, after losing the semifinal to world number one Nicol David here on Monday.
Top seed and World No.16 Ghosal lived up to his billing, outplaying 35th-ranked Beng Hee of Malaysia 11-9 11-4 11-5 in 45 minutes on the glass court of Yeorumul Squash Courts.
The two players have beaten each other once on the PSA professional tour but Ghosal had lost to Beng Hee in the team semifinal of the Asian Championships in June.
Ghosal today was too good for his 34-year-old Malaysian opponent, who had won gold in the 2002 Busan and 2006 Doha edition besides getting a bronze in Guangzhou four years ago.
It is certain now that the Indian will return home with a different medal colour after settling for back-to-back bronze in the last two editions. He has already said that it is his best chance of winning a memorable gold. The final will be played tomorrow and Ghosal awaits the winner of the semifinal between Max Lee of Hong Kong and Abdullah Almezayen of Kuwait.
