Anahat Singh scripts stunning comeback to reach squash final
Indian squash star Anahat Singh staged a miraculous comeback from 0-2 down to defeat Japan's Satomi Watanabe and secure a spot in the Asian Games final.
Indian squash sensation Anahat Singh pulled off a miraculous turnaround at the Asian Games 2026 on Saturday, defeating Japan's Satomi Watanabe to secure her place in the women's singles final. In a high-octane semifinal encounter, Singh overcame a daunting 0-2 deficit to triumph 3-2 against the world No. 6.
A fight against the odds
The match began precariously for the 17th-ranked Indian. Watanabe utilized her superior pace, sharp angles, and tactical variations to keep Singh on the defensive, claiming the first two games with scores of 9-11 and 11-13. With her back against the wall, Singh appeared to be heading toward an early exit.
However, the tide began to turn in the third game. Trailing 8-10 and facing two game points, Singh displayed immense mental fortitude to fight back and clinch the set 12-10. This resurgence shifted the momentum entirely toward the Indian star.
Dominance in the decider
Capitalizing on her newfound rhythm, Singh dominated the fourth game with an 11-6 victory, forcing the match into a deciding fifth set. In the final frame, she maintained her aggressive attacking style, completely outclassing Watanabe to win the game 11-3 and seal a memorable comeback victory.
A golden day for India
Anahat's triumph was part of a highly successful day for the Indian contingent at the Aichi-Nagoya games. Other notable highlights included:
- Kabaddi: The Indian women's kabaddi team clinched gold with a 37-34 victory over Iran.
- Athletics: Sawan Barwal secured a silver medal in the men's marathon, setting a new national record of 2:11:37.
- Shooting: Ashi Chouksey, Tilottama Sen, and Vidarsa Vinod earned team silver in the women's 50m rifle 3P event.
- Squash: Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar added to the tally with a bronze in the mixed doubles.
More from the arena
In badminton, Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda progressed to the pre-quarterfinals, though Lakshya Sen faced an exit following a loss to Singapore's Loh Kean Yew. Meanwhile, in boxing, Kapil Pokhariya moved into the men's 91kg quarterfinals after a dominant 5-0 win over Iran's Sam Estaki.
Archery also saw strong performances, with Dhiraj Bommadevara setting both Asian and national records during the men's team recurve qualification. As the games progress, Anahat Singh now turns her focus toward the ultimate prize: the women's singles gold medal.