CHENNAI: The air was expectant with upcoming jubilation. Everyone at the Express Avenue mall was looking forward to the moment India made it to the final. Everyone, but the Malaysians. They didn’t get the script. Up against the higher-ranked hosts and an irrepressible crowd, fourth seeds Malaysia played out of their skins to stun India 3-0 and knock them out of the competition.
While Malaysia will face favourites Egypt in the summit clash of the Squash World Cup on Saturday, the shell-shocked home side will have to make do with a joint bronze medal along with fellow semifinal losers Japan.
It all started with world No. 149 Ong Sai Hung beating world No. 62 Abhay Singh 7-4, 5-7, 1-7, 7-1, 7-6.
The second match of the tie saw the precocious 18-year-old Aira Azman taking on the 36-year-old Joshna Chinappa. Aira made a flying start, finding the open spaces with effortless ease to routinely wrong-foot Joshna. The Chennai girl tried to mount a comeback, winning the third game, but Aira was in no mood to let up. The youngster also benefited from a number of contentious decisions by the referees, which clearly left Joshna displeased.
A 7-3, 7-3, 5-7, 7-4 victory to Aira meant India’s other veteran player Saurav Ghosal was tasked with a must-win to keep the hosts in the hunt.
Unfortunately, the 36-year-old had picked up an injury the previous day and came out with a heavily bandaged right knee, due to which his on-court movement was visibly hampered.
Saurav tried his best but lost to Darren Pragasam 7-5, 2-7, 7-6, 7-5. Saurav later said: “Yesterday, in the middle of the third game, my knee jarred. There’s probably a sprain in the ligaments. In the warm-up itself, I couldn’t do quick movements. At this level, if you can’t move too well, it’s very difficult.”
Results: Semifinals: Egypt bt Japan 4-0; Malaysia bt India 3-0.
While Malaysia will face favourites Egypt in the summit clash of the Squash World Cup on Saturday, the shell-shocked home side will have to make do with a joint bronze medal along with fellow semifinal losers Japan.
It all started with world No. 149 Ong Sai Hung beating world No. 62 Abhay Singh 7-4, 5-7, 1-7, 7-1, 7-6.
The second match of the tie saw the precocious 18-year-old Aira Azman taking on the 36-year-old Joshna Chinappa. Aira made a flying start, finding the open spaces with effortless ease to routinely wrong-foot Joshna. The Chennai girl tried to mount a comeback, winning the third game, but Aira was in no mood to let up. The youngster also benefited from a number of contentious decisions by the referees, which clearly left Joshna displeased.
A 7-3, 7-3, 5-7, 7-4 victory to Aira meant India’s other veteran player Saurav Ghosal was tasked with a must-win to keep the hosts in the hunt.
Unfortunately, the 36-year-old had picked up an injury the previous day and came out with a heavily bandaged right knee, due to which his on-court movement was visibly hampered.
Saurav tried his best but lost to Darren Pragasam 7-5, 2-7, 7-6, 7-5. Saurav later said: “Yesterday, in the middle of the third game, my knee jarred. There’s probably a sprain in the ligaments. In the warm-up itself, I couldn’t do quick movements. At this level, if you can’t move too well, it’s very difficult.”
Results: Semifinals: Egypt bt Japan 4-0; Malaysia bt India 3-0.
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