Chennai: Indian women overwhelmed defending champions Malaysia 3-0 to win the gold, while their male counterparts lost 0-2 to Pakistan in the finals of the 11th Asian Junior Men's and Women's Squash Championship at Islamabad on Saturday.

This is the first time in the history of Indian squash that Indian women have won a gold in the championship. According to information reaching here, the Indian trio of Vaidehi Reddy, Joshna Chinappa (both Chennai) and Alisa Mashruwala (Mumbai) steamrolled Malaysia to lift the title.

Reddy beat Sally Looi 9-5, 9-1, 3-9, 9-6, while Chinappa survived some anxious moments before quelling the challenge of Lim Yoke Wah at 10-8, 9-5, 7-9, 9-5. Mashuruwala had no difficulty in beating Deli Arnold 9-2, 9-4, 9-1.

However, in the men's section, both Saurav Ghosal and Siddarth Suchde were squarely beaten by Pakistan's Farkhan Mehboob (9-1, 9-0, 9-5) and Khalid Atlas (9-5, 9-0, 9- 0) in the first two singles.

India's Gaurav Nandrajo did not play the third and final match, since Pakistan had already annexed the title. This is the 10th time in the 11-year history of the championship that Pakistan have emerged as winners.

In the playoff for the third and fourth places, Hong Kong women beat Sri Lanka 3-0, while Kuwait men claimed the bronze, defeating Malaysia 2-1.

PTI