India’s Agarwal, Aadya, Gowshika enter semis in Asian Junior squash

Chennai, June 27 (Agency) On a day of mixed luck for Indians, Shiven Agarwal, Aadya Budhia and Gowshika M moved into the semifinals in their respective age categories at the 31st Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in Islamabad on Thursday. Second-seeded Agarwal beat local challenger Abdul Ahad Butt 11-4, 11-7, 11-5 in the boys’ U-15 quarterfinals, while Aadya and Gowshika, the second and fourth seeds in the girls’ U-13 section, put it past Mahnoor Ali (Pak) 11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6 and Makaela Lin Cassidy (HK) 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 respectively.

Meanwhile, five Indian players lost in the quarterfinals, with Nirupama Dubey going down in a five-game thriller in the girls’ U-19 section. Other Indian results (quarterfinals): Boys U-17: Yusha Nafees lost to Abdullah Nawaz (Pak) 1-11, 7-11, 2-11. Girls – U-15: Ankita Dubey lost to Harleein Tan (Mas) 2-11, 5-11, 5-11; Diva Shah lost to Lo Pui Yin Chole (HK) 6-11, 6-11, 9-11. U-17: Unnati Tripathi lost to Doyce Lee Ye San (Mas) 3-11, 1-11, 6-11. U-19: 5-Nirupama Dubey lost to 3-Akari Midorikawa (Japan) 7-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 5-11.