Medals assured in Squash

In their best ever show at the Asian Games, India were on Wednesday assured of two more medals in squash after the men's and women's teams advanced to the semifinals, here.

India dished out a dominating performance as both the men's and women's teams won their respective matches by an identical 3-0 margin.

India's top player Saurav Ghosal, who had been rested in the earlier matches, started the proceedings for the men's team on Wednesday as he beat Thailand's Poonsiri Phuwis 11-8, 11-4, 12-10.

Ramit Tandon then outclassed Phatraprasit Arnold 11-2, 11-3, 11-6 and Mahesh Mangaonkar routed Jivasuwan Natthakit 11-0, 11-6 11-2 in lop-sided contests to complete a 3-0 drubbing.

Earlier, the women's team comprising Joshana Chinappa, Dipika Pallikal Karthik, Sunayana Kuruvilla and Tanvi Khanna continued its unbeaten run, defeating China 3-0 in penultimate pool match.

Having won all their matches so far, the final set of league matches on Thursday will decide whether India can top its group in the men's and women's sections.

Ghosal, Pallikal and Chinappa had won Bronze medals in their respective singles event last week and with two more medals assured in the team event, this is turning out to be India's best ever show in squash.

In other events of the day, Indian judokas Vijay Kumar Yadav and Kalpana Devi Thoudam were knocked out of the Asian Games after losing their respective bouts in the men's and women's elimination rounds here on Wednesday.

Vijay lost 0-10 to Uzbekistan's Urozboev Diyorbek in the men's 60kg elimination round, while Kalpana lost to Uzbekistan's Gulnoza Ziyaeva in the women's 52kg elimination round of 16 here.