Nagoya, Veteran Joshna Chinappa, playing a record seventh Asian Games, and Velavan Senthilkumar assured themselves of a medal in the mixed doubles squash event by progressing to the semifinals with a win over David Pelino and Jemyca Aribado of the Philippines here on Friday.
She already has a haul of two silver and three bronze medals at the continental event. Joshna and Senthilkumar hardly broke a sweat to take the first game in nine minutes with the Philippines pair coming short in all departments of the game. “Winning a medal for your country is always very special. “It was a very good match, we played aggressive from the start till the very end.
It will be the sixth Asian Games medal for 40-year-old Joshna. She won a singles bronze in 2018 edition, a team silver each in 2014 and 2018, and team bronze each in 2010 and 2022. The Indian duo completely dominated the quarterfinal match at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena Court Number 6 with their power and clinical display. The experienced Joshna and the 28-year-old Senthilkumar, both from Tamil Nadu, complemented each other. The Indians were 3-0 up quiet early and they made it 9-2 in no time. The Filipinos took a point after that but Joshna and Senthilkumar were in a hurry, as they took the next two points and take the first game 11-3. The second game was a little bit tougher for the Indians as Pelino and Aribado tried a comeback after the Indians took a 3-0 lead. It was 4-2 midway in the second game, but that was the smallest gap the Philippines pair could muster.
And that’s been my motivation all my career,” Joshna told PTI after the match. Senthilkumar, who is playing in his first Asian Games, said he and Joshna executed their pre-match plans to the ‘T’. We executed our plans perfectly and both of us played really well.” he said.
