Indian boys prevailed over Hong Kong 2-1 while the girls team outclassed Malaysia 3-0 to enter the finals of the 16th Asian Junior Squash Championship, here today.
It's for the second time only when both the teams have made it to the summit clash of the Asian championship with the first one being in 2003 in Islamabad.
In the boys' semifinal, Kush Kumar was pushed to the limit before prevailing over Wong Chi Him 3-1. Kush pinned the opponent on his backhand and played some accurate drops to win the match in four games.
Mahesh Mangaonkar won the second match convincingly against Yeung Ho Wai to set up a mouth-watering clash against top seed Pakistan.
In the dead rubber, Madhav Dhingra went down in straight games to Leung Chi Hin Henry.
In the girls' section, Lakshya Ragavendran won a hard-fought contest against Celine Yeap Shu Wan in the decider after Aparajitha Balamurukan went down to Rachel Arnold in straight games.
India's number one, Anaka Alankamony had earlier disposed off the Malaysian top seed, Vanessa Gnanasigamani, in straight games to put her team ahead.
The girls will meet Hong Kong in the summit clash.
Results:
Girls: India bt Malaysia (2-1)
Anaka Alankamony bt Vanessa Raj Gnanasigamani 11-4 11-7 11-5. A. Balamurukan lost to Rachel Mae Arnold 4-11 7-11 5-11. Lakshya Ragavendran bt Celine Yeap Shu Wan 11-6 11-6 13-11.
Men: India bt Hong Kong (2-1)
Mahesh Mangoankar bt Yeung Ho Wai 11-5 11-4 11-8 Kush Kumar bt Wong Chi Him 11-3 11-2 8-11 11-4 Madhav Dhingra lost to Leung Chi Hin Henry 5-11 9-11.
