Malaysia could reap two gold medals in the squash team events after both the men’s and women’s teams qualified for the finals with both teams registering 2-0 wins over Hong Kong in the semi-finals at the Yeorumul Squash Courts in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon on Friday.
The Indian women defeated South Korea while the Indian men defeated Kuwait by 2-0 margins in their semi-final encounters.
The Malaysian women, the defending champions, had a much easier task against their Hong Kong counterparts with singles silver medallist Low Wee Wern getting the first point with a 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 win over Hong Kong’s Chan Ho Lin in 32 minutes.
World No 1 Datuk Nicol David, who retained her singles gold medal with a win over Wee Wern, had to come back from a set down for a 4-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-6 win over Hong Kong No 1 Annie Lau in a 44 minute battle.
Joshana Chinappa defeated Park Eunok 11-6, 13-11, 11-8 for India’s first point before Dipika Rebecca Pallikal gave India the second point with a 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5 win over Song Sunmi.
In the men’s team semi-final Mohd Nafiizwan Mohd Adnan battled for 80 minutes before he subdued Hong Kong’s Au Chun Ming 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 for Malaysia’s first point. Ong Beng Hee, who failed to defend his singles gold and had to settle for a bronze this time, gave Malaysia the winning point. He beat Lee Ho Yin 2-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-8.
In the other semi-final India beat Kuwait 2-0.
