Anahat Singh wins Asian Games silver in squash, loses final 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 to Sivasangari
Synopsis
Anahat Singh, 18, made history as the first Indian woman in an Asian Games squash singles final — only to fall 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 to world number five Sivasangari Subramaniam, missing out on both gold and a direct LA 2028 Olympic quota. A brutal final cannot erase what her semifinal comeback already wrote into the record books.
Key Takeaways
Anahat Singh won Asian Games silver in women's singles squash on 27 September at Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena .
She lost 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 to Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam , the world number five and defending champion.
The defeat ended her bid to become the first squash player to earn direct LA 2028 Olympic qualification via the Asian Games.
Anahat became the first Indian woman to reach the women's singles squash final at the Asian Games.
In the semifinal, she overturned a two-game deficit and saved two match points against Japan's Satomi Watanabe .
India's team squash event begins on Monday with two matches on day one.
India's Anahat Singh, aged 18, claimed a historic Asian Games silver medal in women's singles squash on 27 September 2026 at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena, but was candid about her disappointment after going down 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 to Malaysia's defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam — the world number five — in Sunday's final. Despite the defeat, Anahat became the first Indian woman to reach the singles squash final at the Asian Games.
What She Said After the Final
'I'm not happy at all with the way I played today. I think I could have definitely done a lot better. Maybe I got a bit too happy winning yesterday,' Anahat said after the match. 'I'm still happy with the silver. It was more than I expected,' she added, reflecting both the honest self-assessment and the genuine pride of a teenager competing at the top of continental squash.
The Olympic Qualification Bid Falls Short
The loss also ended Anahat's bid to become the first squash player to earn direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics through the Asian Games route. Under the current quota framework, a gold medal in the singles event at the continental championships would have secured Olympic berth — a prize that went instead to Sivasangari. The stakes made Sunday's final one of the most consequential squash matches in recent Indian sporting history.
The Semifinal Comeback That Made History
Anahat's run to the final was itself remarkable. In the semifinal against Japan's Satomi Watanabe, she overturned a two-game deficit and saved two match points before completing a stunning comeback — a first in Indian women's squash at the Asian Games. She credited the experience of handling that pressure with giving her a new toolkit, even as the final proved a step too far on the day.
The Gap to the Top Five
Anahat, the reigning Junior World Champion, was straightforward about the quality differential she encountered in the gold-medal match. 'A lot didn't work today, but she's number five. There's still a lot for me to improve on and there's still a huge gap. Not everyone realises, but even number five and number six, there's a huge difference,' she said. This is only her second Asian Games, underscoring both how far she has come and how much runway remains for development.
Team Event Begins Monday
Anahat will not have long to process the result. India's team squash competition begins on Monday, with two matches scheduled on the opening day. She expressed confidence in the squad, singling out veteran Joshna Chinappa — 'one of the best players India has ever seen in squash' — and Tanvi as key pillars. 'We have a good chance. Hopefully, we can back each other up in the next coming week and pull off something great,' she said. The team event now becomes India's next opportunity to convert individual momentum into collective silverware in Nagoya.
Point of View
4-11, 4-11, 7-11, signals that the gap between India's brightest junior prospect and the established world top five remains substantial. The more significant casualty is the Olympic quota: the Asian Games singles gold was a rare, rule-based pathway to LA 2028 for a sport that struggles for Olympic entry points, and it has now gone to Malaysia. The team event starting Monday is India's best remaining leverage in Nagoya, and the presence of Joshna Chinappa alongside Anahat gives the squad a credible shot — but individual history-making and team results are two different challenges.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Anahat Singh's result at the Asian Games 2026 squash final?
Anahat Singh lost the women's singles final 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 to Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam on 27 September at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena, winning the silver medal. It was a one-sided scoreline against the world number five and defending champion.
Why was the Asian Games squash gold important for Olympics qualification?
Winning the women's singles gold at the Asian Games would have given Anahat Singh direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics — making her the first squash player to earn an Olympic quota through this route. The loss means that pathway is now closed for her.
What is Anahat Singh's historic achievement at these Asian Games?
Anahat Singh became the first Indian woman to reach the women's singles squash final at the Asian Games. Her semifinal run included overturning a two-game deficit and saving two match points against Japan's Satomi Watanabe.
Who is Sivasangari Subramaniam, and how does she compare to Anahat?
Sivasangari Subramaniam is Malaysia's defending Asian Games champion and the world number five in women's squash. Anahat, the reigning Junior World Champion, acknowledged a significant gap, saying 'even number five and number six, there's a huge difference.'
What is next for Anahat Singh after the Asian Games squash final?
India's team squash competition begins on Monday in Nagoya, with two matches on the opening day. Anahat will be part of a squad that also includes veteran Joshna Chinappa and Tanvi, and she expressed optimism about the team's chances.
