Incheon:
Dipika Pallikal and Saurav Ghosal scripted history on the squash court, while shooters also continued to deliver medals as India bagged two more bronze to boost their tally to six on the third day of the 17th Asian Games here on Monday.
Pallikal settled for a bronze medal the first by an Indian woman squash player after losing to world number one Nicol David in the semifinals. India were also assured of at least a silver in the men’s singles event after Ghosal stormed into the final the first from the country to achieve such a feat.
The shooting range continued to be a happy hunting ground for the Indian contingent with the women’s pistol trio of Rahi Sarnobat, Anisa Sayyed and Heena Sidhu claiming a bronze in the 25m team event at the Ongnyeon International Range.
While the women’s pistol team, Pallikal and Ghosal stole the limelight with their performances, it was a rather disappointing day for India otherwise with the men’s football team and the tennis teams crashing out of the event.
With two medals coming their way, India were now placed 13th in the overall tally with one gold and five bronze. Regional powerhouse China lead the pack with 41 medals (17-12-12), followed by hosts South Korea 35 (13-11-11) and Japan 28 (7-9-12).
History was scripted at the squash court with Pallikal’s bronze even though she settled for the medal after a rather brute 4-11 4-11 5-11 thrashing at the hands of David.
Later, Ghosal entered the final, beating 2006 champion Ong Beng Hee. Top seed and World No.16 Ghosal lived up to his billing, outplaying 35th-ranked Beng Hee of Malaysia 11-9 11-4 11-5 in 45 minutes on the glass court of Yeorumul Squash Courts.
At the shooting range, the Indian trio of Rahi, Anisa and Heena tallied 1729 points, a whopping 18 adrift of silver medal winners China and two more behind gold medallists and hosts South Korea, to clinch the fourth medal from the pistol and rifle shooting range here.
It was also the third bronze for the country from this venue. The only metal of any other colour, notably gold, has come through the efforts of army man Jitu Rai in the 50m pistol event.
