The Indian men's squash team achieved a remarkable feat by clinching the gold medal at the Asian Games 2023 on Saturday, triumphing over Pakistan with a 2-1 victory in the final.
The best-of-three tie commenced with Mahesh M suffering a defeat against Nasir Iqbal in straight games, with scores of 8-11, 3-11, and 2-11. However, Saurav Ghosal turned the tide in favor of India with an outstanding performance, securing an 11-5, 11-1, 11-3 victory over Muhammad Asim.
The decider between Abhay Singh and Noor Zaman proved to be an intense battle, stretching to the very end. Despite facing adversity, the Indian player ultimately emerged triumphant with a hard-fought win of 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, and 12-10.
Zaman had two match points in the final game, but the Indian player displayed unwavering determination and skill, winning four consecutive points to secure the coveted top prize for his team.
This victory not only upgraded India's bronze medal from the 2018 Jakarta Games but also served as a sweet revenge for their previous loss to the same opposition during the group stage.
With this remarkable achievement, India's gold medal count reached an impressive 10, contributing to their overall tally of 36 medals at the Hangzhou Games. Earlier in the competition, the women's team had also showcased their prowess by securing a bronze medal.
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