Anahat, Abhay book final berths; Joshna-Velavan lose semis to settle for a bronze

Sensational Anahat Singh made a stirring comeback and along with Abhay Singh reached the squash finals in the women’s and men’s singles categories, while Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar won the mixed doubles bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on Saturday.

Anahat produced a stirring comeback to beat Japan’s world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe 3-2 (9-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 11-3) and advance to the women’s singles final. Anahat rallied from two games down to get the better of the Japanese player.

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Watanabe is sixth in the PSA world rankings – a good 11 places better off than Anahat who recently moved up to 17th. “I think it is the best win of my career,” Anahat said after the match. “She’s number six in the world, and that’s the highest win I’ve ever had in my squash career.”

Anahat Singh produced a stirring comeback to beat Japan’s world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe 3-2 (9-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 11-3) and advance to the women’s singles final

Redemption for young Anahat

The victory carried an added sense of redemption for Anahat Singh. The two had met once previously this year, when the Indian found herself on the opposite side of an almost identical turnaround. Anahat Singh had led Satomi Watanabe 2-0 on that occasion before eventually losing in five games.

“The last time she won, I was two-love up, and I ended up losing after being two-love up,” Anahat Singh recalled. “It was the other way around this time.”

Anahat had reached the semifinals after beating compatriot Tanvi Khanna 3-0 (11-2, 11-5, 11-3) in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Abhay downs Pakistan’s Irfan 3-0

Abhay Singh also progressed to the men’s singles final after overcoming Pakistan’s Muhammad Ashab Irfan 3-0 (11-3, 12-10, 11-6) in the other semifinal. Anahat and Abhay are now both guaranteed at least silver medals and stand one win away from securing LA 2028 quota places.

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The men’s and women’s singles champions at the Asian Games will each earn a quota for LA 2028, subject to meeting the qualification criteria, including being inside the PSA world top 50 on May 22, 2028.

Abhay Singh overcome Pakistan’s Muhammad Ashab Irfan 3-0 (11-3, 12-10, 11-6) in the semifinal. Pics: X

Anahat is currently 17th in the women’s singles while Abhay is placed 26th in the men’s singles rankings.

Joshna-Velavan lose to Hong Kong pair

The third-seeded Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar went down 2-1 (11-10, 2-11, 11-10) to Hong Kong China’s Lee Ka Yi and Tang Ming Hong in the semi-finals at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena.

Losing semifinalists in squash at the Asian Games 2026 receive a bronze medal. The bronze was a sixth Asian Games medal for the 40-year-old Joshna, who is competing at her seventh edition of the continental meet. She had previously won two silver and three bronze medals.

Anahat, Abhay and Joshna-Velavan assure India of 3 medals in squash in Asian Games

“As much as it is very disappointing, I also feel very proud of my partner in this doubles. We played really well. Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way,” Joshna said.

“I have to get over it, that’s life, right? As an athlete, it is important to bounce back from tough decisions, from tough matches. My career is filled with that, so as much as I am disappointed and it will take me a couple of days, I will be back.”

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For the 28-year-old Velavan, it was his maiden Asian Games medal. Joshna and Velavan had secured their place on the podium on Friday with a 2-0 (11-3, 11-5) win over the Philippines’ David William Pelino and Jemyca Aribado in the quarterfinals.

Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar went down 2-1 (11-10, 2-11, 11-10) to Hong Kong China’s Lee Ka Yi and Tang Ming Hong in the semi-finals at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena

They began their campaign directly in the round of 16, where they beat fellow Indians Suraj Kumar Chand and Shameena Riaz 2-0 (11-7, 11-10).

Among the other Indians in the singles draw, Veer Chotrani bowed out in the men’s quarterfinals after a 3-1 (6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-3) defeat to Irfan, while Tanvi’s run ended against Anahat in the women’s last eight.

Suraj and Shameena, meanwhile, were eliminated from the mixed doubles by Joshna and Velavan in the round of 16.

The four players remain in contention at Aichi-Nagoya, however, with Veer and Suraj part of India’s men’s team and Tanvi and Shameena in the women’s team.

The team competitions begin on Monday. India are the top seeds in the men’s event and third seeds in the women’s competition.