Asian Games: Anahat, Abhay eye historic squash gold and LA 2028 Olympic berth
Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh face Malaysian opponents in the Asian Games squash finals, aiming for India's first individual gold and Olympic qualification.
India is on the cusp of a historic milestone in squash as stars Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh prepare to compete in the gold-medal matches this Sunday. The duo faces Malaysian opponents in the women's and men's singles finals, with a victory potentially securing India's first individual Asian Games gold in the sport and a coveted qualification spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
High-Stakes Finals in Singles Events
The schedule for the decisive matches is set, with both players looking to etch their names into the history books. The action unfolds as follows:
- Men's Singles Gold Match: Abhay Singh vs. Ng Eain Yow (Malaysia) at 12:30 pm IST.
- Women's Singles Gold Match: Anahat Singh vs. Sivasangari Subramaniam (Malaysia) at 1:30 pm IST.
A win in either match would be transformative for Indian squash, marking the first time an individual player from the nation has stood atop the podium in this discipline at the Asian Games.
Anahat Singh: The Rising Prodigy
At just 18 years old, the Delhi-based Anahat Singh has rapidly ascended to the forefront of Indian squash. Her journey to the final has been nothing short of dramatic. In her semifinal clash, she staged a remarkable comeback against Japan's world No. 6, Satomi Watanabe. Despite trailing by two games and requiring medical attention following a collision with Watanabe, Anahat fought back to win 9-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 11-3.
Anahat’s pedigree is well-established; she previously secured two bronze medals at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou and made her mark at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham as the youngest member of the Indian contingent.
Abhay Singh: Leading the Men's Charge
Standing alongside her is 28-year-old Abhay Singh, India's top-ranked male professional. The Chennai-born Arjuna Award recipient has been a powerhouse in the sport, reaching a career-high PSA ranking of No. 22 in April 2026. He enters this final as only the second Indian man to reach the Asian Games men's singles final, following in the footsteps of Saurav Ghosal.
Abhay secured his place in the final with a dominant performance against Pakistan's Muhammad Irfan, winning 11-3, 12-10, 11-6. His recent successes include winning the 2025 SDAT Squash World Cup in Chennai and the Indian Open in Mumbai.
A Growing Medal Haul for India
India has already tasted success in the squash arena during these Games, with Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar claiming bronze medals in the mixed doubles event. This achievement marked Chinappa's sixth Asian Games medal, setting the stage for Anahat and Abhay to potentially elevate India's standing to the highest level.