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

It turned out to be bright day for Indian squash at the Asian Games as Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh entered the last four in singles and Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar reached the mixed doubles semifinals to assure three medals for India.

Joshna, playing in a record seventh Asian Games, and Senthilkumar began the winning spree with an 11-3, 11-5 victory over the Philippines’ David Pelino and Jemyca Aribado in the mixed doubles quarterfinals. Joshna and Senthilkumar took less than half an hour to register a dominant win in the quarterfinal. They will take on Hong Kong’s Yo Ka Lee and Ming Hong Tang in the semifinals on Saturday.

Joshna on a roll

It is the sixth Asian Games medal for 40-year-old Joshna. She already has a haul of two silver and three bronze medals at the continental event. She won a singles bronze in 2018 edition, a team silver each in 2014 and 2018, and team bronze each in 2010 and 2022.

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Joshna, who is competing at the Asian Games since Busan 2002, surpassed the earlier record of another Indian squash great Saurav Ghosal who retired last year after making six appearances at the continental multi-sport event.

Anahat Singh beat compatriot Tanvi Khanna 11-2, 11-5, 11-3. She will face Japan’s Satomi Watanabe in the semifinal. Pic: PSA

In women’s singles, Anahat Singh beat compatriot Tanvi Khanna 11-2, 11-5, 11-3, while Abhay Singh defeated Japan’s Ryonosuke Tsukue 11-4, 11-3, 11-6.

Abhay will face Pakistan’s Irfan Muhammad in the semifinals after Muhammad defeated India’s Veer Chotrani. The men’s and women’s singles gold medallists at the Games will directly qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squash will make its Olympic debut.

On the Saturday’s semifinal against Satomi Watanabe, she said, “I’m just trying to take it one step at a time. As for my ranking, I’m not expected to win the event. As for Satomi (Watanabe), she won 3-2 last time, but there’s definitely a lot that I learned.

“I’ve watched that match a hundred times on repeat and coming into this event as well. So, I know what changes I need to make and hopefully I’m able to replicate that and do well tomorrow as well.”

Rishabh Das breaks own national record

In action elsewhere, Sajan Prakash finished seventh in the men’s 200m butterfly final, clocking 1:58.42 as India’s swimming campaign at the Asian Games came to a close.

Rishabh Das broke his own national record in the men’s 200m backstroke, clocking 1:58.77 to finish sixth in the final. He improved on his previous record of 1:59.84 from earlier this year by more than a second. Compatriot Utkarsh Patil finished seventh in 2:00.94 in the final.

Rishabh Das broke his own national record in the men’s 200m backstroke, clocking 1:58.77 to finish sixth in the final

In weightlifting, Nirupama Devi finished seventh in the women’s 63kg weightlifting event with a total lift of 217kg. She lifted 93kg in the snatch and 124kg in the clean and jerk. The Indian weightlifter opened with a successful 90kg lift, improved to 93kg on her second attempt, but failed with her final attempt at 95kg.

Indian boxer Preeti Pawar’s women’s 54kg campaign ended in the Round of 16 after losing 5-0 to Olympic bronze medallist Pang Chol-mi of North Korea.

In surfing, India’s Sivaraj Babu finished second in his heat with a score of 7.03 (3.53+3.50) to progress to Round 2 of the men’s shortboard event. Kishore Kumar earlier advanced directly to Round 3 having topped his heat with a score of 9.33.

India finish fourth in team dressage

India finished fourth in the team dressage event with 201.971 points, behind China, Japan and South Korea. Shruti Vora led the Indian scoring with 68.059 points, followed by Hriday Chheda (67.353) and Jai Sud (66.559). India had won gold in the team dressage event at Hangzhou 2023.