Guangzhou, Nov 19 (IANS) India were assured of atleast a bronze medal in squash after Saurav Ghoshal blanked countryman Siddharth Suchde 3-0 to book a place in the semi-finals of the men's singles in the Asian Games here Friday.
World no. 25 Saurav cruised to the last four stage with a convincing 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 victory over Siddharth at the Asian Games Town Gymnasium. He next plays top-seed Mohammad Azlan Iskandar of Malaysia.
However, hopes of a medal in the women's singles evaporated as Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa surrendered to their Malaysian opponents in the quarterfinals.
Dipika, ranked 36th, pulled off a game against World no.1 Nicol David before losing 8-11, 11-7, 6-11, 4-11.
Joshna lost a tough rubber against World No.16 Low Wee Wern. The Indian started well by winning the first two sets against Low, but could not hold on to the lead and went down 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 3-11.