Anahat Singh wins Asian Games squash silver, misses LA 2028 Olympics direct spot
Synopsis
India's 18-year-old squash prodigy Anahat Singh made history at the Asian Games in Nagoya — becoming the first Indian woman to reach the singles final — only to lose the gold and a direct LA 2028 Olympics quota to Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam. In a single afternoon, both Indian finalists came tantalizingly close to making Olympic history, and both went home with silver.
Key Takeaways
Anahat Singh won the women's singles squash silver medal at the Asian Games in Nagoya on 27 September 2026 , losing the final 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 to Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam .
Anahat is the first Indian woman to reach and finish runner-up in the women's singles squash final at the Asiad.
The gold medal carried a direct LA 2028 Olympics quota — squash's debut Games — which Anahat missed by finishing second.
In the men's final, Abhay Singh also took silver, losing to Malaysia's Eain Yow Ng 9-11, 5-11, 5-11 in 44 minutes .
Abhay is only the second Indian man after Saurav Ghosal (silver in 2014 and 2023 ) to win the men's singles silver at the Asian Games.
Both Indian finalists will now need to qualify for LA 2028 through alternative pathways on the PSA World Tour.
India's Anahat Singh claimed a historic silver medal in women's singles squash at the Asian Games on 27 September 2026, going down to Malaysia's defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 in the gold medal match at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena in Nagoya, Japan. The 18-year-old becomes the first Indian woman to reach — and finish as runner-up in — the women's singles squash final at the Asiad.
A Final Too Far Against the Champion
Anahat, the reigning Junior World Champion, found the gulf in experience telling against the more seasoned Sivasangari, who successfully defended the gold she had won at the Hangzhou Games. The Malaysian dominated all three games with a combination of solid attack and near-impenetrable defence, conceding just 15 points in total across the match.
The Indian teenager struggled to break Sivasangari's rhythm from the outset, losing the first game 4-11. The pattern continued in the second game — another 4-11 reverse — before Anahat managed a slightly better showing in the third, eventually losing 7-11.
The Olympic Qualification That Slipped Away
The stakes in the final extended beyond a medal. The gold medal in women's singles squash carried a direct quota place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squash is making its long-awaited Olympic debut. By finishing as runner-up, Anahat missed that automatic berth and will now need to qualify through alternative pathways ahead of LA 2028.
Notably, her path to the final itself was remarkable. Anahat had defeated World No. 6 Satomi Watanabe of Japan in the semifinal after being two games down and saving two match points — a comeback that underscored both her mental fortitude and competitive ceiling at the highest level.
Abhay Singh Also Settles for Silver in Men's Singles
In an extraordinary day of near-misses for Indian squash, Abhay Singh also won the men's singles silver medal at the same venue, falling to Malaysia's defending champion Eain Yow Ng 9-11, 5-11, 5-11 in a 44-minute final. Eain controlled the contest after a competitive opening game, denying Abhay any chance of a comeback.
Abhay becomes only the second Indian man — after Saurav Ghosal, who won silver in both 2014 and 2023 — to claim the men's singles silver at the Asian Games. Like Anahat, Abhay also missed the direct Olympic quota that accompanied the gold medal in his event.
Historic Day for Indian Squash Despite the Heartbreak
The twin silver medals represent a landmark moment for Indian squash on the continental stage. Having both the men's and women's singles finalists in the same edition of the Asian Games is unprecedented for India in this sport. This comes amid a broader rise in Indian squash's global profile, with a generation of young professionals increasingly competing at the top end of the world rankings.
With squash's Olympic debut at LA 2028 now firmly in view, the qualification race will intensify — and both Anahat and Abhay will be among the most closely watched contenders on the PSA World Tour circuit in the months ahead.
Point of View
But the story will be defined by what was nearly won rather than what was. The direct Olympic quota attached to each gold medal made these finals structurally different from past Asian Games squash events — and losing both to the same Malaysian powerhouse in the same session exposes a persistent gap at the elite level. Anahat's semifinal comeback against World No. 6 Watanabe was the performance of a future champion; the final showed she is not quite there yet. With squash's Olympic debut at LA 2028 now the North Star for the sport globally, the Indian federation's investment in alternative qualification pathways — and in bridging the experience gap — will define whether 2026 is remembered as a breakthrough or a missed turn.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Anahat Singh win at the Asian Games 2026?
Anahat Singh won the silver medal in women's singles squash at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. She lost the gold medal final to Malaysia's defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 on 27 September 2026.
Why is Anahat Singh's silver medal historically significant?
Anahat is the first Indian woman to reach and finish as runner-up in the women's singles squash final at the Asian Games. At 18, she is also the reigning Junior World Champion, making her run to the final one of the most notable achievements in Indian squash history.
Why did missing the gold medal matter beyond the Asian Games?
The gold medal in both the men's and women's singles squash events at these Asian Games carried a direct qualification quota for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squash will make its Olympic debut. Both Anahat and Abhay Singh, having won silver, missed that automatic berth and will need to qualify through alternative routes.
How did Abhay Singh perform at the Asian Games 2026?
Abhay Singh won the men's singles squash silver medal, losing the final to Malaysia's Eain Yow Ng 9-11, 5-11, 5-11 in 44 minutes. He becomes only the second Indian man after Saurav Ghosal to win the men's singles silver at the Asian Games.
What was Anahat Singh's route to the Asian Games squash final?
Anahat reached the final by defeating World No. 6 Satomi Watanabe of Japan in the semifinal, coming back from two games down and saving two match points — the first time an Indian woman had advanced to the women's singles squash final at the Asiad.
