Asian Games 2023 squash: Indian women’s team beats Pakistan in opener

The Indian women’s team defeated arch-rivals Pakistan while the men’s side beat Singapore and Qatar to open their Asian Games 2023 squash campaign in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China on Tuesday.

The Indian women's squash team comprising Joshna Chinappa, Anahat Singh and Tanvi Khanna beat Pakistan 3-0 in its opening Pool B encounter. Joshna Chinappa is competing in her sixth Asian Games while 15-year-old Anahat Singh is making her debut at the continental event.

In the women’s team event, Anahat Singh gave India the lead with a 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-3) win over Sadia Gul. Joshna Chinappa then dispatched Noor Ul Huda Sadiq 3-0 (11-2, 11-5, 11-7) before Tanvi Khanna beat Noor Ul Ain Ijaz 3-0 (11-3, 11-6, 11-2) to wrap up the tie.

Following the win, the Indian women’s team is placed fourth in the Pool B standings. The top two teams from Pool A and Pool B will advance to the semi-finals. The Indian women’s team will play Nepal and Macao China next on Wednesday.

The Indian men’s squash team, meanwhile, beat both Singapore and Qatar by identical 3-0 scorelines in their Pool A matches.

Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu opened the match for India against Singapore and prevailed 3-1 (11-4, 13-11, 8-11, 11-7) over Jerome Clement Aw Jin Ming.

Saurav Ghosal, also competing in his sixth Asian Games, beat Samuel Kang Shan Mu 3-0 (11-9, 11-1, 11-4) before Abhay Singh clinched the tie with a 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-7) win over Marcus Phua Jia Hui.

Later, the Indian men’s team beat Qatar to make it two out of two on the opening day.

Mahesh Mangaonkar, who replaced Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu for the Qatar tie, got India off to a winning start with a 3-0 (11-7,11-4,11-1) win over Ahmad Al-Tamimi. In the next match, Saurav Ghosal rallied to beat Abdulla Al-Tamimi 3-1 (11-1, 5-11, 11-5. 11-3). Abhay Singh then defeated Syed Amjad 3-1 (13-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-2) to round off a perfect day for the Indian squash contingent.

The Indian men’s team is placed top in the Pool A standings. They will face Kuwait before taking on arch-rivals Pakistan on Wednesday.

At the last Jakarta Asian Games 2018, the Indian men’s team won the bronze medal while women clinched a silver.

The teams’ medal rounds in Hangzhou are scheduled on Friday and Saturday. The doubles and singles competition will start on Sunday.