India celebrated their first senior Asian squash title success following unexpected victory in the women’s event in the 2012 Asian Team Championships at the Salem Al-Sabah International Squash Complex in Kuwait.

The third seeds faced favourites and defending champions Hong Kong China. But after a four-game victory by Indian number two Joshna Chinappa over Joey Chan – ranked over 30 places above – top string Dipika Pallikal sealed India’s historic win by recording her career-first victory over Hong Kong’s world No6 Annie Au in straight games.

“It was a class act from Dipika,” exclaimed India’s National Coach Cyrus Poncha.

But India failed to make it a double in the men’s event where Pakistan successfully retained the title after beating the favourites 2/0 in the final.

It was a sensational comeback by the fourth seeds who suffered a shock 2/1 defeat to hosts Kuwait in the qualifying rounds – then battled back to overcome third seeds Hong Kong in the quarter-finals before seeing off Malaysia, the No2 seeds, in the semis.

In the final, Farhan Mehboob recovered from two games down to beat India’s world No25 Saurav Ghosal 10-12, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9 and Pakistan No2 Farhan Zaman also outplayed a higher-ranked opponent when he defeated Siddharth Suchde 11-7, 11-6, 11-13, 7-11, 11-9.

Asian Team Championships, Kuwait City, Kuwait

Men’s Final:
[4] PAKISTAN bt [1] INDIA 2/0
Farhan Mehboob bt Saurav Ghosal 10-12, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9
Farhan Zaman bt Siddharth Suchde 11-7, 11-6, 11-13, 7-11, 11-9

Remaining final positions: 3 Kuwait & Malaysia, 5 Hong Kong China, 6 Japan, 7 Jordan, 8 Korea, 9 Iran, 10 Singapore, 11 Iraq, 12 China, 13 Sri Lanka, 14 Chinese Taipei, 15 Palestine

Women’s Final:
[3] INDIA bt [1] HONG KONG CHINA 2/0
Joshna Chinappa bt Joey Chan 11-3, 11-8, 5-11, 11-8
Dipika Pallikal bt Annie Au 11-8, 12-10, 11-8

Remaining final positions: 3 Malaysia & Korea, 5 Japan, 6 China, 7 Sri Lanka, 8 Iran