Double Asian Games Gold Beckons For Malaysia

A first squash gold medal double is on the cards for Malaysia in the 15th Asian Games in Qatar after world number one Nicol David cruised into the women's final following an emphatic victory in today's semi-finals - and Mohd Azlan Iskandar and Ong Beng Hee set up the anticipated all-Malaysian men's final at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha.

Top seed Nicol David and No2 seed Rebecca Chiu, the title-holder from Hong Kong, were too strong for their respective opponents in the women's semi-finals.

"David's movement was so efficient and her shot selection so effective that it was a joy to watch," said ASF Technical Delegate Major Maniam after the 23-year-old from Penang's 9-0, 9-1, 9-0 victory over Hong Kong's Christina Mak.

Chiu also played brilliantly to contain her opponent Sharon Wee, beating the 3/4 seed from Malaysia 9-6, 9-1, 9-3 to set up a repeat of the 1998 and 2002 women's finals.

By contrast, the men's semi-finals were more evenly-contested affairs: The diminutive Saurav Ghosal, the 5/8 seed from India who secured an unexpected place in the medals after upsetting compatriot Ritwik Bhattacharya in the previous round, had the crowd entertained with his delightful front game and his awesome retrieving skills.

His opponent Ong Beng Hee picked up almost all of Saurav's attacking shots to the front - and at the same time threw in a few of his own to take a two-game lead. Ghosal continued with the same sort of game in the third and slowly it began to produce results. Beng Hee was either getting a little late to the ball or was tinning his returns - with the result that the Indian underdog took a well-deserved third game.

The fourth was looking good for Ghosal as he raced to a 4-1 lead with, yet again, delicate drop shots. The defending champion from Malaysia decided that he should keep Saurav away from the front and went back to playing a lot more lobs as he did in the first two games. Rallies were now getting longer and Ghosal's legs getting wearier. Beng Hee finished off well to win 9-1, 9-2, 6-9, 9-4 and earn himself a place in his second successive final.

The last semi-final of the day was also fought well by both players. The beautiful touch of 3/4 seed Mansoor Zaman took the Pakistani to a 6-1 lead in the first game, a 6-1 lead in the second and a 7-2 lead in the third. However, all three times he lost as top seed Mohd Azlan Iskandar determinedly stuck to his task, playing aggressive lengths and drops.

Ultimately it was Iskandar's consistency that made the difference as the world No13 battled to a 10-8, 9-6, 9-7 victory - and a place in his maiden Asian Games final.

Men's semi-finals:
[1] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt [3/4] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 10-8, 9-6, 9-7 (63m)
[2] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [5/8] Saurav Ghosal (IND) 9-1, 9-2, 6-9, 9-4 (47m)

Women's semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [3/4] Christina Mak (HKG) 9-0, 9-1, 9-0 (25m)
[2] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) bt [3/4] Sharon Wee (MAS) 9-6, 9-1, 9-3 (35m)