India Crush China 3-0 in Asian Games Squash Opener
India's men's squash team secures a dominant 3-0 victory over China to kick off their Asian Games 2026 campaign in Aichi-Nagoya.
India's men's squash campaign at the Asian Games 2026 began with a statement of intent on Monday. In a commanding performance in Aichi-Nagoya, the Indian squad delivered a flawless 3-0 whitewash against China to secure a massive victory in their opening pool-stage tie.
Dominant Display on the Squash Court
The Indian team showed no signs of nerves, clinical in every aspect of their game to dismantle the Chinese opposition. The victory was built on three consecutive straight-game wins that left the opponents with no way back into the tie.
The momentum began with Suraj Kumar Chand, who set the tone for the Indian side. Chand secured an early advantage by defeating Du Shaoqian 3-0 (11-4, 11-2, 12-10), showing incredible composure in the deciding third game.
Following this, Veer Chotrani stepped up to put India in an unassailable position. Chotrani was relentless, defeating Li Haizhen 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-3) to ensure the Indian side remained in total control of the match.
Velavan Senthilkumar completed the clean sweep for the Indian men, securing the final point with a decisive 3-0 win (11-3, 11-2, 11-4) over his Chinese counterpart. This comprehensive victory provides a significant boost to India as they prepare to face South Korea later in the group stage.
A Golden Day for Indian Athletes
While the squash team celebrated a clinical start, the 2026 Asian Games has been a whirlwind of activity for India across multiple disciplines. The nation has seen several athletes progress through crucial stages of their respective events:
- Kurash: Pincky Balhara secured a medal for India after a dominant 3-0 victory over Lim Garam in the women's 78kg quarterfinals.
- Cricket: The Indian men's cricket team advanced to the semi-finals following an abandoned quarterfinal against Afghanistan, progressing due to higher seeding.
- Archery: Chikitha Taniparthi and Jyothi Surekha Vennam advanced through the women's compound individual Round of 32. In the men's category, Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru and Sahil Jadhav also progressed, with Ganesh moving into the quarterfinals after a tight 149-148 battle with Sahil.
- Shooting: Neeru leads the women's trap qualification, while Shapath Bharadwaj holds fifth place in the men's trap standings. In the women's 25m pistol team final, Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Rahi Sarnobat finished fifth and qualified for the individual final.
- Volleyball & Squash: India secured 3-0 victories over Hong Kong in men's volleyball and over China in the women's squash team event.
- Surfing: Kishore Kumar Anbarasu emerged victorious against China's Ma Wensong, while Sivaraj Babu fell to the Philippines' Alciso Jayuard.
Despite a setback in Sepaktakraw, where India lost 1-2 to Japan and exited Group B, the overall momentum remains high for the Indian contingent in Aichi-Nagoya.