Asian Games: Ghosal goes down in Asian Games final

Incheon Sourav Ghosal faltered at the doorstep as Messi Abdullah Almezayen added a Houdini act to his repertoire to deny Indias firstever squash gold at Asian Games and instead win his countrys firstever squash medalSaurav GhosalAbdullah was once famously called as the Lionel Messi of Squash in Malaysia I loved that who does not like Messi I do too he blushed and said after the match While it may not be possible the compare Abdullahs skills with those of Messi based on his Tuesdays performance an additional sobriquet could be bestowed on The Houdini of SquashAbdullah escaped a match point to beat Ghosal 1012 211 1412 118 119If rallying from a one game to two deficit in the semifinals against World No 20 Lee Ho Yin Max was not enough he came back from the brink of a matchball in the third game after losing the first two to stage one of the finest comebacks in Asian Games squash historyPoised at 1211 in the third after winning the first two games Ghosal a massive favourite before the final stood on the doorstep of victoryJust as he was about walk out of it Abdullah pulled him back in and turned the match on its head to walk out a winner insteadAfter 90 dramatic minutes of mentally draining and bruising squash in a crucible the two gladiators emerged one holding the gold medal and the other grappling with thoughts of whatcouldbeAbdullah dropped to the floor exhausted while a devastated Ghosal threw his racket up in the air and then rushed out of the glassed caged to the restroom to wash the inevitable tears awaySaurav Ghosal walks off after being beaten by Kuwaits Abdullah Almezayen on the floor in the marathon Asian Games squash final in Incheon yesterday PicAFPGhosal said Its obviously disappointing to lose the match like that We all know how good he is I didnt think I played badly performancewise I give credit to Abdullah for how he played today Congratulations to Abdullah for what he did todayAbdullah when reminded of the article which once referred to him as Messi of Squash laughed and said I remember that I liked it very much Who does not like Messi and I like him too It was nice to be called thatGhosal was graceful while saying Some of the shots he executed or even attempted were amazing He played very well and we are good friends despite all the tension you might have seen in the matchAbdullah called his biggest win ever though he does have a few over top10 on the circuit After the second game I thought I was done It was over But I gave it another shot and slowly it worked It was a very tough match and Saurav played very well We know each other and are good friendsTalking of the deciding fifth game Ghosal said I think it was pretty much onegame little shootout I didnt think I was under any pressure or any greater pressure than I was before the match He put together some shots that were amazing and difficult to think He missed a lot in the first half hour But later on it worked out really well for him Its very difficult to see what else I could have done in retrospect but I was playing against someone who reacts so well Ghosal started well moving to 63 and then to 107 before Abdullah rallied to 1010 only to lose on extra points at 1012 In the second Ghosal ran away to lead 90 in next to no time and the end seemed near for the Kuwaiti who then chose to gamble away the second 211 to conserve energy for the third gameBut somewhere in Abdullahs mind thoughts of a comeback had begun Abdullah slowly but steadily grinded his way back in the third Brick by brick he built that path back to glory His gamble of giving up the second to save his energy had paid off thus far despite needing to stave off a close call and a matchball at 1211 in the third game He pulled back again to 1212 and then set up a gameball at 1312 and won 1412In the fourth game after being 12 at no stage did Abdullah trail He stayed a wee bit ahead 65 76 and then 96 before closing it 118It was now down to the onegame shootout This time around it was Ghosal who stayed marginally ahead at 31 54 and then 76 But from thereon Abdullah now panting and catching his breath after every point and every let replay of a point because of unintentional block kept unraveling one stitch at a time and went to 107 to set up no less than three matchpoints It was still not over as Ghosal won two points to make it 910 at which point the players called for the court to wiped after Abdullah drenched in sweat had fallen downThat gave him just that little bit more time to catch his breath and that last gap helped him produce that final stab and Ghosal was felled Ghosal implored for a let but the referees ruled goodGood it was Maybe even brilliant for Abdullah and a tragedy for Ghosal