India bagged the gold medal in men’s team squash at the Asian Games 2023 after a thrilling victory over Pakistan. This remarkable triumph marks India’s first gold medal in the men’s team category in nine years, with their previous win in the 2014 Asian Games. The team, comprised of Saurav Ghosal, Mahesh Mangaonkar, and Abhay Singh, faced a daunting challenge against Pakistan, who had emerged victorious in their previous encounter. However, the Indian players displayed incredible resilience and staged a memorable comeback to secure the win.
In the first match of the final, Mangaonkar took on Iqbal Nasir. While he put up a valiant fight, he eventually succumbed to the challenge, losing 0-3 (8-11, 3-11, 2-11) and giving Pakistan an early advantage.
Nevertheless, the lead was short-lived as Ghosal quickly leveled the score by defeating Muhammad Asim. Despite trailing 1-5 in the first game, Ghosal staged a remarkable comeback, securing ten consecutive points to claim victory with a score of 3-0 (11-5, 11-1, 11-3), setting the stage for an exciting final match.
Abhay Singh faced off against Noor Zaman in a tough battle, with the match going down to the wire. Despite trailing 2-1, Singh showed tremendous determination and fought back to win the closely contested encounter 3-2 (11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10).
This victory in the men’s team squash event is a testament to the Indian team’s incredible performance and their ability to deliver under pressure. Congratulations to the team on their well-deserved gold medal.