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Sourav Ghosall out

Kolkata-based scripts history by becoming first Indian to enter gold-medal round in Asiad squash; Pallikal settles for bronze

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India’s Saurav Ghosal plays a shot against Malaysia’s Ong Beng Hee in the men’s singles squash semifinal in Incheon on Monday
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Saurav Ghosal knows that he has created history by entering the first ever final by an Indian squash player at the Asian Games here on Monday. But he is not thinking about it. Rather, he doesn't want to blink till this dream is alive!

Ghosal's easy 11-9 11-4 11-5 victory over two-time Asian Games bronze medallist Ong Beng Bee at the Yeorumul Squash Courts here came as a surprise to many. But, going by his fitness and focus during the ongoing championship, he has already been tipped as favourite to win the gold on Tuesday.

If his match on Sunday against Pakistan's Iqbal Nasir was about keeping the emotions under control and playing the waiting game, then on Monday, Ghosal showed more aggression and went for the kill against his aging but more experienced Malaysian opponent.

The result was out soon. Beng Bee could hardly stand against his aggression, except for the first game, and surrendered quickly in 45 minutes. In fact, there were few twists and turns in the first game that lasted 19 minutes. The next two games took only 18 minutes before the two were shaking hands at the exit gate.

Except for a few soft points, the Indian top ranked squash player dominated the game. "The final is tomorrow (Tuesday) and I would like to go back to the Games Village, do some stretching and relax. Then I will think about the match and think what I can do to stop him," Ghosal said after the victory on Monday.

When asked if there was any pressure going into the semifinals because the Malaysian defeated Ghosal just a few months back at the World Team Championships and with whom his head-to-head record (1-3 until today) was not at all encouraging, Ghosal said: "I thought about the match and I knew I don't have a very good record against him. I knew I had to play well and I strategised. He is strong in the front court, so I tried to control it. I didn't make too many mistakes either."

"I am treading into a new territory and I hope to do well," said the Kolkata-based player.

On Deepika Pallikal's bronze medal earlier in the day after losing to World No. 1 David Nicol Ann of Malaysia in the semifinals, Ghosal said that the both squash medals (including his own on Tuesday) will help squash growing more in India.

"Perhaps, ours will be the golden generation of Indian squash. This medal will help the sport to grow in the country. We have a very good crop of players coming up and they will definitely be inspired by these performances be it Commonwealth or Asian Games."

Pallikal lost 4-11 4-11 5-11 in just 25 minutes to the defending champion, who had converted her silver of 2002 Games to gold in 2006 and then retained it in Guangzhou four years later.

Ghosal will now take on Abdullah Al Muzayen of Kuwait.

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