India add two squash silvers in Nagoya
India's squash campaign delivered two silver medals on Sunday, September 27, as Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh reached the Asian Games singles finals but were unable to overcome their Malaysian opponents.
Eighteen-year-old Anahat lost the women's singles final to world No. 5 Sivasangari Subramaniam in straight games, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7. Earlier, Abhay went down 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 to Ng Eain Yow in the men's singles gold-medal match.
Both Malaysian players successfully defended their Asian Games singles titles. Their victories also secured qualification for squash's Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
The results denied India a singles squash gold but produced significant individual milestones for both Indian finalists.
Anahat Singh makes Indian squash history
The colour of the medal does not tell the entire story of Anahat's campaign.
At 18, she became the first Indian woman to reach an Asian Games squash singles final, going beyond the previous women's singles achievements of Indian stars Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal.
Anahat had reached Sunday's final after defeating Japan's world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe in a dramatic semi-final. But another comeback proved beyond her against Sivasangari.
The Malaysian controlled the final from the beginning. She limited Anahat's opportunities to attack and took the opening two games 11-4 before closing out the third 11-7.
The silver adds another major achievement to Anahat's rapidly developing career. She is also the first Indian squash player to win a world junior title.
Abhay Singh's gold bid ends against Ng Eain Yow
Abhay Singh faced a difficult assignment against defending champion Ng Eain Yow in the men's final.
The Indian, ranked world No. 26 in reporting from the event, kept the opening game close before Ng took it 11-9. The Malaysian then established control, winning the next two games 11-5 and 11-5 to complete a straight-games victory.
Abhay briefly led 5-3 in the third game, but Ng responded by winning eight consecutive points to close the match.
It was Abhay's eighth defeat against the Malaysian in their head-to-head meetings.
Despite the defeat, the silver represents an important individual breakthrough. Abhay became only the second Indian man to win an individual squash medal at the Asian Games, following Saurav Ghosal.
A first for India in Asian Games squash
Taken together, Anahat and Abhay's performances produced another milestone.
For the first time, India had representatives in both the men's and women's squash singles finals at the same Asian Games.
India's history in the two events had previously been led by players including Saurav Ghosal, Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal.
The latest results therefore represent more than two additions to India's medal count: they show greater depth across both men's and women's individual squash.
There are further opportunities ahead in the team competitions. India's men's team enters that phase as the defending Asian Games champion. Rediff
Malaysia dominate the singles finals
There was a clear common factor in both of India's defeats: Malaysia.
Ng Eain Yow and Sivasangari Subramaniam successfully defended their respective Asian Games titles, giving Malaysia both singles gold medals.
The victories carried additional significance because the champions became the first two squash players to qualify for LA28, where squash will make its Olympic debut.
For Anahat and Abhay, that means Sunday's defeats also represented missed opportunities to secure early Olympic qualification through the Asian Games.
Their Olympic prospects, however, are not decided solely by these finals; qualification opportunities remain as the sport builds towards Los Angeles.
India still have medal opportunities on September 27
The two squash silvers were part of a much broader Indian programme on Sunday.
India had medal contenders scheduled across athletics, shooting, boxing and other disciplines. In athletics, Ancy Sojan and Shaili Singh were entered in the women's long jump final, while Sarvesh Anil Kushare and Adarsh Ram were due to compete in the men's high jump.
Parul Chaudhary was scheduled for the women's 3000m steeplechase, while Nandhini Kongan had the women's 100m hurdles final on her programme.
Tejaswin Shankar was also continuing his decathlon campaign, giving India another important athletics storyline later in the day. The Indian Express
Because those events were still unfolding when this article was prepared, their eventual results should not be presented as confirmed until the respective competitions conclude.
India's September 27 campaign extends beyond athletics
India's programme also included shooting, boxing, hockey and several other sports.
Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, alongside Esha Singh and Rahi Sarnobat, was among India's competitors in the women's 25m pistol event.
The women's hockey team was scheduled to face Singapore in Pool B, while India's boxing programme included Parveen in the women's 65kg quarter-final and Sachin in the men's 60kg quarter-final.
These events meant India's medal picture could continue to change through the remainder of September 27.
A silver that carries extra significance for Anahat
Among Sunday's two squash results, Anahat's achievement stands out because of both her age and the history attached to it.
Becoming the first Indian woman to contest an Asian Games singles squash final at 18 puts her result in a longer context than the immediate loss to Sivasangari.
Her progression also arrives at an important moment for squash internationally.
With the sport joining the Olympic programme at Los Angeles 2028, the next two years will give leading Asian players a new global target beyond the Asian Games, world championships and professional tour.
For India, Anahat's rise and Abhay's first individual Asian Games medal provide encouraging evidence of depth as that Olympic era approaches.
The bigger picture for India
Sunday's squash finals produced disappointment and progress at the same time.
India came within two matches of winning unprecedented singles golds but encountered two established Malaysian champions who controlled their respective finals.
Yet the results also delivered India's first female Asian Games squash singles finalist, only its second male individual medallist, and its first appearance in both singles finals at one edition of the Games.
With team squash still to come and India's men's side defending its title, the sport can still add to the country's medal haul in Aichi-Nagoya. Rediff
For Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh, Sunday's silvers mark significant individual achievements—even if both arrived in Nagoya hoping to leave the singles court with gold.
Source
Primary source: Olympics.com / Asian Games results and updates
Additional reporting: PTI, Reuters, The Indian Express, Hindustan Times
