Doha: In the newly introduced match racing in the Asian Games yachting programme, the Indian team would fight it out today with Thailand in a best-of-five one-on-one contest in the Beneteau 7.5 keel boat to decide who, among the two, would enter the final.

The Indian squad of Ramachandran Mahesh (skipper) and three crew members had finished second behind top notchers Singapore in the preliminary phase, which ended at the Doha Sailing Club here yesterday, with 11 wins and three losses for an aggregate of 11 points.

Singapore, who too finished with an identical tally but were ranked number one for having defeated India in the round robin phase, will take on fourth finishers South Korea in the other best-of-five semi-final in which the two opposing teams are alternatively placed on the starboard side of the mark and the port side.

India had beaten Thailand in the preliminary phase in which eight teams competed.

The winners of the semifinals will fight for the gold tomorrow while the losers would go into a contest for the bronze.

In this event, the combined weight of the four sailors of each team should not exceed 350 kg. India are the Asian champions in match racing.