Ghosal settles for Asiad squash silver (Third lead)

It was a case of so near yet so far for Saurav Ghosal as the top seed had to be content with the squash silver - India's maiden in the discipline - at the Asian Games here Tuesday.

The World No.16 Indian, who was the favourite to win a maiden gold for the country in the racquet sport at the Asiad, was shocked 2-3 by World No.46 Abdullah Al Muzayen of Kuwait in the men's singles final at the Yeorumul Squash Courts.

The 28-year-old Ghosal was the odds-on favourite coming into the match and that belief was only strengthened after he won the first two games. But in one of the biggest shocks, Ghosal lost the next three games to hand the Kuwaiti a 10-12, 2-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-9 win in an hour and 15 minutes.

Ghosal had earlier done the hard bit of beating two-time former Games champion and top-10 player Ong Beng Hee of Malaysia in straight games to move into the final.

The Kuwaiti player was hardly given a chance against the marauding Indian at the start. Ghosal duly obliged by taking the first game 12-10 in 21 minutes - the longest game of the match.

In the second game, Ghosal blitzed his opponent 11-2 in just six minutes and it seemed the Indian would canter to the gold.

But the second game thrashing seemed to awaken Al Muzayen from his slumber and the Kuwaiti hit back by edging Ghosal 14-12.

It still looked as if it was only a matter of time before the Indian would dispose off his opponent but the lower-ranked Kuwaiti only got stronger to tie the match 2-2 by winning the fourth game 11-8 in 12 minutes.

In the decider, Ghosal led 6-4 but Al Muzayen again refused to give up and came back brilliantly to take a 10-7 lead and finally wrapped the match 11-9 to take gold.

Later in the men's team group stage, India defeated Jordan 2-1 in their opening Group B match.

In Match 1, Kush Kumar comfortably beat Albraikat Saif Yousef Irsheid 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-9). But Jordan restored parity as Alsaraj Ahmad Khaleel Ahmad beat Mahesh Mangaonkar 1-3 (11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8) in the second match.

However, Harinder Pal Sandhu clinched the tie for India with a 3-1 (11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5) win over Alsarraj Mohammad Khalil Ahmad.

India next play China Wednesday.