Asian Games: Indian men’s and women’s squash teams storm into semi-finals, secure medals

India’s Anahat Singh, Abhay Singh, Joshna Chinnapa, Velavan Senthilkumar and others pose for photographs (PTI photo) The Indian men’s and women’s squash team marched into the semi-finals of the Asian Games with convincing quarter-final victories over Kuwait and Singapore on Wednesday, guaranteeing the country another medal in the team events.The top-seeded Indian men’s team, who are also the defending champions, produced a clinical 2-0 win over Kuwait to book a place in the last four.Asian Games full coverage | Schedule | Medal totalVeer Chotrani was tested by Bader Almogghrebi in the opening singles but held his nerve to secure a 12-10, 8-11, 11-0, 11-5 victory in a 34-minute encounter.Abhay Singh then completed the tie with India with an 11-3, 11-4, 11-8 win over Ammar Altamimi. Abhay, the highest-ranked Indian player, had earlier won silver in the singles event.The Indian women’s team also secured a 2-0 quarter-final victory as they beat Singapore to enter the semi-finals.Tanvi Khanna got India off to a winning start after overcoming Au Yeong Wai Iynn in a tight opening singles match. Tanvi won 11-6, 4-11, 15-13, 11-1 after 32 minutes.Anahat Singh, who won silver in the individual competition, then sealed the tie with a commanding 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 victory over Au Yeong Wai Yhann. The 18-year-old player needed only 22 minutes to complete the match.Veteran Joshna Chinappa, who was part of India’s mixed doubles bronze-winning pair, did not have to take the court as India completed a straight-sets win.Both the Indian teams will now play their respective semi-finals on Thursday.The men’s team entered the knockout stages as one of the tournament’s top contenders, while India also enjoyed strong success in the women’s competition. India beat Iran 3-0 in their final group stage match on Tuesday after starting their Group C campaign with wins over China and Japan.With both teams now assured of medals, India will look to take their campaigns further when the semi-finals take place on Thursday.