Squash HIGHLIGHTS, Asian Games 2023: Ghosal wins silver in men’s singles; Dipika-Harinder clinch gold in mixed doubles - Hangzhou 2022 updates

That is curtains on the squash events for the day and the Asian Games. India ends it with a silver in men’s singles and a gold and a bronze in mixed doubles.

In the team events, India won gold in men’s team and bronze in the women’s competition.

But the Asian Games continue and we have many more Indians who will be competing for the medals. You can catch all the action and updates on Sportstar.

Asian Games 2023, Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games Live Updates

Asian Games 2023: 19th edition of Asian Games are set to be played from 23 September 2023 to 8 October 2023 in Hangzhou, China

The Indian was off to a thumping start as he edged out Eain Yow NG in the first game 11-9. But the rallies kept getting longer and Eain used that to his advantage to first get level in the game, and then take the third and fourth games to win the contest.

Asian Games 2023: Saurav Ghosal wins silver in men’s singles

Asian Games 2023: Saurav Ghosal wins silver in men’s singles

It is must do-or-die for Ghosal from here on. The scores will read IND-MAS.

1-0: Ghosal with a backhand drop on the front left to win the first point of the game.

1-2: Eain gets an overhead backhand to win the point.

2-2: Ghosal with another drop shot on the front court to level scores.

2-3: Eain places his drop from the centre towards the right and Ghosal cannot reach it in time.

2-4: Eain with a disguised drop shot to the front right and Ghosal fails to meet it even at full stretch.

2-5: Eain soldifies his poisition with another point.

3-5: Eain miscues his backhand from the deep left end of the court to concede the point.

3-6: A down the line return from Eain beats Ghosal who thuds into the wall attempting a return on that.

4-6: Ghosal drops one short on the front left and Eain appeals for a let but to no avail.

4-7: Eain sends a return deep into the right. Ghosal gets to it but his connection is not enough to win the point.

5-7: Ghosal gets a point with a change of direction from the left side of court.

5-8: A forehand winner from Eain.

5-9: Another forehand from Eain which beats the Indian on the left side.

5-10: A drop on the front left from Eain gets him one point from a gold medal.

6-10: Ghosal cuts the gap to four.

7-10: Another point from Ghosal with a front court drop.

7-11: Eain sends the ball deep to the right end from front left and that gets him the point and the gold medal.

EAIN WINS 11-7

The scores will read IND-MAS.

0-1: Ghosal cannot get to a return on the deep left side of the court.

1-1: Ghosal levels up with a winner down the left side of the court.

1-2: Ghosal is quick to get to a front court drop from his opponent. Hits one of his own to get the point but the point is given to the Malaysian for a let.

1-3: Ghosal misses a backhand on the left end of the court to concede the point.

1-4: Eain picks a drop and then hits a winner on the front right to move ahead in the contest.

2-6: Ghosal breaks the run of points for the Malaysian.

3-6: Eain’s backhand clunks the tin line and Ghosal gets the point.

4-6: Stroke awarded to Ghosal as Eain gets in the way of his backhand.

5-6: Ghosal inches closer to getting the scores square after an error from Eain.

5-7: A backhand winner from Eain down the left side of the court.

5-7: Back-to-back let calls for Ghosal. He is convinced they should have been strokes.

5-8: Ghosal does his best to defend but Eain gets the better of him with a winner on the front left.

5-9: Eain lands a winner with a delicate forehand on the front right of the court.

5-10: A stroke to Eain which gets him to game point.

5-11: Ghosal puts his forehand on the tin line and the game goes to the Malaysian.

EAIN WINS 11-5.

The scores will read IND-MAS.

0-1: Ghosal is made to reach a shot on the deep right. He gets to it but cannot put it over the tin.

0-2: A stroke to Eain as Ghosal gets in his way on a drop shot.

1-2: A brilliant drop shot from Ghosal. He is on the right and changes the direction of his shot to the left and Eain cannot reach it.

2-2: Ghosal gets a stroke point.

3-2: Another brilliant drop shot from Ghosal. This time with a forehand on the front right court.

4-2: Another stroke point for the Indian to get his lead up to two points.

5-2: Another excruciatingly long rally which ends in favour of Ghosal. He strikes a front court-back court combo to beat Eain.

5-3: A stoke to Eain as Ghosal cannot move out of his way on the deep left side of the court.

6-3: Ghosal slices the shot at the very last moment which works the trick and Eain loses another point.

6-4: Eain sends his shot from the left of the court angling away to the right. Ghosal is behind him and has no chance of reaching it.

6-5: Eain closes in further as Ghosal makes an error on a forehand.

6-6: A stroke awarded to Eain and Ghosal is stunned with the decision.

7-6: Eain puts his forehand from the front right to the tin and loses the point.

7-7: Ghosal makes Eain move all around the court but Eain cleverly gets a drop shot in to win the point. Ghosal is blocked in the way and the referee does not award a let claiming that Ghosal was not attempting to go at the ball.

7-8: Ghosal with an unforced error on the forehand.

8-8: Ghosal induces a mistake from Eain to get level.

8-9: Eain with a well-disguised drop shot on the front left to get back ahead.

9-9: This time it is Ghosal’s turn to feign a drop shot to win the point. This is in the same region as the last point.

9-10: Again Ghosal is upset to not get a let call. Eain was in his way which prevented his reply to a drop shot.

9-11: Eain has his arms up in celebration as he gets the point to level the contest.

EAIN WINS 11-9

The scores will read IND-MAS.

1-0: A backhand slice winner to start the proceedings for Ghosal.

1-0: A long rally which gets ends with let to Eain. The point to be replayed.

1-1: Eain makes Ghosal run across the court and that finally yields a point for him as Ghosal mishits a forehand.

1-2: A stroke against Ghosal for interfering in the shot.

1-3: Another stroke point for Eain as Ghosal blocks his path on a backhand shot on the left side of the court.

1-4: Ghosal fails to make a forehand on the right side of the court.

1-5: Eain pulling away. He hits a backhand slice on the front court to win the point.

1-6: After a series of drop shots, Eain throws in a shot deep into the court and Ghosal fails to reach it.

2-6: Perfect set up by Ghosal, sends Eain on the wrong side and hits the shot straight down the right.

3-6: Another point for Ghosal which cuts the gap to three.

4-6: This time the stroke goes in favour of the Indian. Eain prevents a certain shot of Ghosal.

5-6: Ghosal wins this point after a long rally using a backhand drop shot.

5-7: The rallies keep getting longer. Ghosal miraculously picks a drop on the left and then hits another shot on the far right corner. Eain, however, gets the point with a drop on the right.

6-7: Ghosal keeping up with the Malaysian and not letting the lead add up to too many points.

7-8: Ghosal gets a stroke after his backhand is impeded by Eain.

8-8: All square! Ghosal places his shot in the middle and Eain cannot get to it before a second bounce.

8-9: Eain with another drop shot on the front court on the right.

9-9: Ghosal gets the score level again.

10-9: Ghosal places his backhand drop shot with perfection on the front left to get the game point.

11-9: Eain appeals for a let as he misses a drop shot from Ghosal.

GHOSAL WINS 11-9!

Ghosal and Eain are introduced to the audience before they advance to the court for warm ups.

A reminder, this final will be a best-of-five contest as against the best-of-three in the mixed doubles.

The match is expected to go right down to the wire. Ghosal, ranked 19th in the world, will look to pull off a win against higher-ranked World No. 18 Eain.

India’s Saurav Ghosal will be facing Malaysia’s Eain Yow NG in the men’s singles final.

It is the top prize for India in the mixed doubles. There was a mini scare but the pair hangs on to get the job done.

It went right down the wire. Malaysia led in the first game and then allowed India to get the game 11-10. In the second game, India led 9-3 and slipped to let Malaysia level. But Sandhu delivered two crucial points to ensure that his country has the 20th gold medal.

FINAL SCORE: 11-10, 11-10

Asian Games 2023: Dipika-Harinder pair wins gold in squash mixed doubles event

The Indian squash pair of Dipika Pallikal and Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu clinched gold in mixed doubles event at the ongoing Asian Games.

The scores will read IND-MAS.

1-0: India wins the first point as Aifa fails to hit a forehand from the deep right corner of the court.

1-1: Aifa makes up for the first point with a sliced drop shot winner.

2-1: Sandhu with a backhand chop to drop the ball short of Syafiq.

3-1: Another drop by Sandhu. This time on the forehand. Incredible range from the Indian.

4-1: Dipika wins a point with a forehand from the right side of court.

5-1: Aifa hits a backhand below the tin to hand India a four point advantage.

6-1: Dipika with a forehand shot to win the point on the right side again.

6-2: Syafiq threads the gap between the Indian pair to win a point with his forehand.

7-2: Syafiq cannot meet a shot on the front court and it is a point for India.

8-2: A stroke awarded to India.

8-3: A rare unforced error by Sandhu.

9-3: Dipika wins the point with a forehand from the right side to the left side of the court.

9-5: Malaysia hanging on. They won’t let this go without a fight. Syafiq covers the court at great speed to secure two back-to-back points for India.

9-6: Dipika misses a forehand and Malaysia gets another point.

9-7: Dipika misses another forehand. She appeals for a let but it is denied.

9-8: The comeback continues for Malaysia.

9-8: Let for India as Syafiq impedes Sandhu on a shot.

9-9: Dipika fails to meet a shot on forehand which means Malaysia have pulled level. They were 9-3 down.

9-10: Malaysia has a game point.

9-10: Three straight lets for the decisive point.

10-10: Sandhu finally gets the point for India with a backhand.

11-10: India wins the GOLD. Sandhu hits the winning point with a backhand.

Scores will read IND-MAS

0-1: Sandhu’s backhand lands below the tin and that’s a point for Malaysia.

2-1: Sandhu wins the next two points with strong backhand shots.

2-3: Aifa of Malaysia gets a forehand to beat Dipika.

2-4: Harinder cannot get to a drop shot and India drops another point.

3-4: A long rally which ends after Syafiq’s shot is miscued.

4-4: A well-disguised forehand winner by Dipika.

4-4: Another extended rally but the point will be replayed for a let.

4-5: Aifa with a soft-handed shot that beats Harinder.

4-6: A two point lead for Malaysia.

5-6: Dipika gets a forehand winner.

6-6: The scores are level after a stroke is awarded to India.

7-6: Sandhu hits a forehand deep which gets no answer from Malaysia.

8-8: Dipika flaters in her forehand which gets the scores level.

8-9: Sandhu is forced wide and he cannot get to a shot from Aifa. Malaysia back ahead.

8-10: Syafiq with a backhand drop to get a game point.

9-10: India manages to save one of the two game points.

10-10: Sandhu with a backhand winner on the body of Aifa and the Malaysian has no reply.

11-10: Aifa slips up in hitting a forehand to hand India the game.

Hello to one and all! We start with the final of Dipika Pallikal and Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu in the mixed doubles. They face the Malaysia pair of Aifa and Syafiq.

This will be followed by the final match of Saurav Ghosal where he tries to claim his first Asian Games singles gold medal.

India’s squash gold medal matches will be telecast across the Sony Sports Network and can also be streamed live on the Sony LIV app/website