With three singles players in the semi-finals of the men’s and women’s draws, India were assured as many medals in the sport. Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa both lost their semi-final matches and had to settle for bronze.

First to take the court on Saturday was Dipika Pallikal who was up against gold medal favourite Nicol David of Malaysia. Though she did put up a tough fight, her six-time Asian Games gold medal-winning opponent proved just too good as she closed out the match 3-0.

7-11, 9-11, 6-11 was the final scoreline.

This is Dipika’s second Asian Games bronze medal after she lost in the semi-finals of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games as well. Incidentally, it was Nicol David back then as well who had halted Dipika’s campaign four years back.

Joshna Chinappa failed to match up to the level of her 19-year-old Malaysian opponent Sivasangari Subramaniam, losing 1-3 (10-12 6-11 11-9 7-11)

Both the losing semifinalists win a bronze and there is no bronze-medal play-off.

For the women though, the target has already moved to a podium finish in the team event with the 26-year-old Dipika saying she wanted to forget the defeat and focus on winning the gold in women's team event.

India had won the women’s team silver at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

Saurav Ghosal is the lone Indian squash player remaining in the fray and will take on Hong Kong China's Au Chun Ming in the men's singles semifinals later in the day.

(Published with thanks from The Quint)