Tempers fly as India beat Pak to win gold

It is hard to tell when, but at some point, during the India-Pakistan squash men's team final on Saturday, the sense of time and space went out of the window. We could well be sitting in Mumbai or Multan, watching the legendary hockey or cricket teams having a go at each other.

- SHANTANU SRIVASTAVA

There were a few verbals Saurav Ghosal was heard telling Muhammad Asim Khan "Just play your game" when the latter complained of a block, a few jeers chants for India were met with delirious cries for Pakistan, and in the end, a John McEnroe-sque launching of the racquet in the stands. The latter, courtesy a 25-year-old Abhay Singh who saved two match points to pull off a sapping, stunning, and exhilarating 3-2 win over 19-year-old Noor Zaman (11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10) to earn India their second-ever Asian Games gold, after winning their first in Incheon 2014.

First, some context. Three nights back, top seeds India had lost 1-2 to fourth seeds Pakistan in their Pool A match. Then, Zaman got the better of Singh in four games to set wild celebrations in the Pakistani camp. India then beat Malaysia in the semis while Pakistan got the better of Hong Kong to set up the grudge match.