Indian women in title round

Chennai (IANS) Indian women entered the final of the team event of the Asian squash championship after an eight-year interval with a polished win against Korea in the semi-finals here Friday and will clash with Hong Kong who upstaged fancied Malaysia.

However, the Indian men went down fighting to Malaysia in their semi-final tie despite National champion Saurav Ghosal's stirring win against Asian champion Mohd Azlan Iskander. Malaysia await the winner of the Pakistan vs Kuwait semi-final tie.

The Indian women have every chance of annexing the title on the morrow as they had beaten Hong Kong in the league stage. India had last made the final in 2002, but lost.

Young Anaka Alakamony set the ball rolling for the Indians when she beat Kim Ga Hye 11-8, 11-3, 11-8 in just 20 minutes. National champion Joshna Chinappa followed by taking the second singles with a 11-2, 11-4, 11-8 rout of Song Sun Mi in 22 minutes to clinch the issue.

In the other semi-final, Hong Kong bounced back after losing the opening singles to beat Malaysia led by World No.1 Nicol David. In the first singles, Nicol disposed of Rebecca Chiu 11-3, 11-8, 11-5.

However, Hong Kong rallied well as Joey Chan and Annie Au won the second and third singles. Chan defeated Low Wee Wern 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 to make it 1-1 and then, Annie Au won the crucial third singles against Delia Arnold 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7 to seal the tie for Hong Kong.

In the men's semi-final, the Indians put up a brave fight against the Malaysians. India lost the first singles when Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu lost to Mohd Nafizwan Adnan 10-12, 9-11, 11-13, but Ghosal came up with a brilliant performance to tame Iskander 2-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4.

With the teams tied, the pressure was on Siddharth Suchde who faced Malaysia No.2 Ong Ben Hee. The match lasted all of 75 minutes at the end of which Hee came through 11-6, 8-11, 14-12, 4-11, 11-2.