Joshna wins bronze at the Asian Individual Squash Championships

Joshna Chinnappa (Right) won India’s only medal at the Asian Individual Squash Championships

The lone Indian survivor after the quarterfinal phase, Joshna Chinappa expectedly fell at the semi-final hurdle to the current world champion and top seed Nicol David of Malaysia in straight games 6-11, 9-11, 7-11 in the Asian senior individual squash championships in Kuwait on Monday. The defeat meant Joshna settled for a bronze medal, the lone one for India.

Joshna became the lone Indian to win a semi-final berth after the second seeded Saurav Ghosal was beaten late last night in the quarterfinal by Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal 13-15, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5.

Even though a tough opponent, Joshna did match her skill to some distance with Nicol.

“Joshna possibly played some of her best squash today. Her drives and volleyed drops were wonderful and took ner famed opponent by surprise. On several occasions she was in front of Nicol,” said national coach Cyrus Poncha.

But the experience of Nicol and her steady approach told in the end as she demonstrated why she is the most feared rival in contemporary squash with her fluent victory and a place in the title-round.