India’s Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh won silver medals in the women’s and men’s singles squash events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 27, 2026, after both lost their respective finals to Malaysian opponents. Eighteen-year-old Anahat was beaten 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 by world No. 5 Sivasangari Subramaniam, while 28-year-old Abhay lost 9-11, 5-11, 5-11 to defending champion Ng Eain Yow.
Their silver medals marked a historic achievement for Indian squash, with Anahat becoming the first Indian woman to reach an Asian Games singles final and Abhay becoming only the second Indian man to do so, after Saurav Ghosal. Their simultaneous appearances in both singles finals were also a first for Indian squash at the Asian Games, adding two individual silver medals to India’s squash campaign in Nagoya.
Historic Finals
Anahat entered the final after producing one of the most significant comebacks of her Asian Games campaign. In the semi-final, she overcame Japan’s world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe 9-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 11-3 after trailing by two games. The Indian also saved two match points during the contest before completing the comeback. The victory made her the first Indian woman to reach an Asian Games singles final.
Abhay also secured his place in the final with a straight-games victory, defeating Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan 11-3, 12-10, 11-6. His victory made him only the second Indian man to reach an Asian Games men’s singles final, following Saurav Ghosal, who won silver in 2014 and 2023. The result also ensured that India had finalists in both men’s and women’s singles for the first time at an Asian Games. The two Indians were guaranteed at least silver after reaching their respective finals.
Anahat’s Rise
For Anahat, the silver medal adds another milestone to an already rapid rise in international squash. The Delhi-born player began with badminton before switching to squash at the age of eight after being introduced to the sport through her elder sister, Amira. Her parents, Gursharan Singh and Tani Vadehra, also have sporting backgrounds, having played hockey during their college years.
Anahat began making a name for herself on the junior circuit early in her career. She won the girls’ under-11 title at the British Junior Open in 2019 and went on to claim the Asian Under-17 title. Her breakthrough continued at senior level, culminating in her becoming the first Indian to win the women’s singles title at the World Junior Squash Championships in July 2026.
Her Asian Games silver in Nagoya also represents progress from her previous continental campaign. At the Hangzhou Asian Games, held in 2023 after the event was postponed from 2022, Anahat won bronze medals in mixed doubles and the women’s team event. Three years later, she has added a singles silver while becoming the first Indian woman to reach an Asian Games singles final.
🥈 ANAHAT SINGH 🇮🇳
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 27, 2026
📸𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐇
➡️Squash | Women’s Singles | Silver
Anahat Singh soaks in the moment with her Silver medal at the Asian Games 2026.#IndiaAtAsianGames | #TeamIndia | #Cheer4Bharat | #AsianGames2026 | @Media_SAI | @YASMinistry |… pic.twitter.com/sU3sojvRuj
Abhay’s Journey
Abhay brings considerable Asian Games experience into his latest achievement. At the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, he was part of the Indian men’s team that won gold and also claimed a mixed-doubles bronze with Anahat. His latest silver gives him an individual singles medal at the continental event and adds to a growing list of Asian Games achievements.
The Chennai-based squash player has also represented India successfully on the PSA World Tour and was conferred the Arjuna Award in 2024. In preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle, Abhay, Anahat and Velavan Senthilkumar were inducted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme’s Development Group by the Sports Authority of India in 2024.
Abhay’s road to the elite level also involved a significant transformation. He took up squash seriously as a teenager at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai and subsequently made rapid progress through the national rankings. His development has seen him compete extensively on the international circuit, establishing himself as one of India’s leading men’s squash players.
Heartiest congratulations to Abhay Singh on winning the Silver Medal in Men’s Singles Squash at the #AsianGames2026.#Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/AaVoqojibC
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) September 27, 2026
India’s Squash Progress
The two singles silver medals form part of a wider medal-winning campaign for Indian squash in Nagoya. Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar had already secured a mixed-doubles bronze, giving India another podium finish in the discipline. The results also highlight the emergence of a younger generation alongside established Indian squash players.
The singles finals carried significance beyond the medals themselves. Anahat’s appearance represented a first for an Indian woman, while Abhay’s final appearance placed him alongside Saurav Ghosal as only the second Indian man to reach the stage. Malaysia ultimately claimed both singles gold medals, with Sivasangari defeating Anahat in the women’s final and Ng Eain Yow overcoming Abhay in the men’s contest.
The Aichi-Nagoya Games are also part of an important period for squash, with the sport set to make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028. The Asian Games singles gold medallists received a direct qualification pathway for the Olympics, making the Nagoya singles competition particularly significant for athletes targeting the next Olympic cycle.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh’s silver medals show that sporting progress can be measured in more ways than simply winning gold. Their journeys reflect years of training, family support, coaching and opportunities to compete against the best in Asia and beyond.
Anahat’s progression from junior champion to Asian Games singles finalist at 18, alongside Abhay’s journey from an Asian Games team gold medallist to a singles finalist, demonstrates what sustained development can create. Their historic runs can also inspire greater attention towards squash and other sports where Indian athletes are building international strength.
As India looks towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, what more can be done to support athletes like Anahat and Abhay in turning breakthrough performances into long-term sporting success?
Read More: India Wins Double Gold In Kabaddi At Asian Games As Men’s And Women’s Teams Beat Iran
