Anahat Singh wins historic Asian Games silver in squash, vows to fight till last point
Synopsis
At just 18, Anahat Singh became the first Indian woman to win a silver medal in the Asian Games squash singles — and the first Indian to reach the final. She came back from two match points down in the semis to beat World No. 6, then pushed the world No. 5 defending champion before going down 3-0. With squash making its Olympic debut in 2028, this is only the beginning.
Key Takeaways
Anahat Singh won the Asian Games 2026 women's singles squash silver in Nagoya on 27 September , becoming the first Indian woman to do so.
She lost to defending champion and world No.
5 Sivasangari Subramaniam of Malaysia, who also won gold at Hangzhou 2022 .
Anahat was the first Indian to reach the women's singles final at the Asian Games.
6 Satomi Watanabe in the semifinal, coming back from two games down and saving two match points .
The silver meant she narrowly missed direct LA 2028 Olympic qualification, where squash makes its debut; the gold-medallist earns the quota place.
Anahat, the reigning Junior World Champion , said she is focused on a strong two-year build-up to the 2028 Olympics .
Anahat Singh scripted history at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on 27 September, becoming the first Indian woman to win a silver medal in the women's singles squash event at the continental showpiece. The 18-year-old fell to Malaysia's defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam, ranked No. 5 in the world, but refused to capitulate despite going down 3-0 in games.
A Determined Final Display
“I honestly just didn’t want to let it go easily. It was 3-0 for her, but I didn’t want to let any point go without a fight. I definitely didn’t play my best squash today, but I didn’t want to give up until the last point because you never know what can happen,” Anahat said after the match.
Sivasangari, who had claimed gold at Hangzhou 2022, controlled the contest with a disciplined blend of attacking play and solid defence to successfully retain her title. Anahat, however, held her head high, having already made history by becoming the first Indian to reach the women's singles final at the Asian Games.
A Campaign Full of Landmark Moments
Anahat's run to the final was itself extraordinary. In a dramatic semifinal, she came back from two games down and saved two match points to defeat World No. 6 Satomi Watanabe of Japan. It was a result that underlined her composure under pressure at an elite level.
“Siva’s number five in the world, Satomi’s number six, so just getting to play against the top players is something that’s really special, and, of course, I’m quite happy with the silver medal,” she said. “This is my first time playing individuals, actually, and my second time playing in the Asian Games, and just getting to learn from this and be at this stage is something that is very exciting for every athlete.”
Olympics Qualification Context
The silver medal also meant Anahat narrowly missed the first direct qualification pathway to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where squash will make its historic debut as an Olympic sport. The women's singles gold medallist earns a quota place — a slot that went to Sivasangari. Anahat, however, framed the experience as fuel for the next two years of her development.
“I tried my 100 per cent, but there are always things that work out and some things that don’t, and hopefully the journey for the next two years is going to be good,” she said.
Message to Young Athletes and Acknowledgements
The reigning Junior World Champion used her platform to inspire young girls across India. “I’d just say to give it your all, and if it’s something that you really love doing and are passionate about, you should not let it go very easily,” she said.
Anahat credited her family, coaches, government and sponsors for supporting her journey to the highest level. She also praised the growing ecosystem around squash in India, noting that government backing had played a decisive role in expanding the sport's reach. “I think it’s great to see so many new players that want to pick up squash,” she added.
With the 2028 Olympics in sight and a historic Asian Games silver already on her résumé, Anahat Singh's story is far from finished.
Point of View
But the narrow miss on Olympic qualification exposes the structural gap between India's emerging talent and the world's elite. She is the reigning Junior World Champion, yet a 3-0 scoreline against the world No. 5 signals how steep the climb to LA 2028 remains. Indian squash has ridden individual brilliance — Saurav Ghosal, Joshna Chinappa — but systemic depth at the senior level is still work in progress. The government support Anahat credits is real, but converting that into a wider pipeline of women capable of challenging the top-10 on the PSA Tour will define whether this silver is a turning point or a one-off.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Anahat Singh achieve at the Asian Games 2026?
Anahat Singh won the silver medal in the women's singles squash event at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on 27 September, becoming the first Indian woman to reach the final and the first to win a silver in that event. She lost to Malaysia's defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam, ranked No. 5 in the world.
Who did Anahat Singh defeat to reach the Asian Games final?
Anahat beat World No. 6 Satomi Watanabe of Japan in a dramatic semifinal, coming back from two games down and saving two match points. The comeback was widely regarded as one of the standout performances of the tournament.
Did Anahat Singh qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics?
No, Anahat narrowly missed the first direct Olympic qualification pathway. Squash makes its debut at the LA 2028 Olympics, and the women's singles gold medallist — Sivasangari Subramaniam — earns the quota place. Anahat said she is focused on a strong two-year build-up to secure qualification through other routes.
Why is Anahat Singh's Asian Games silver considered historic?
She is the first Indian woman ever to win a silver medal in the women's singles squash event at the Asian Games, and also the first Indian to reach the women's singles final at the continental showpiece. The feat is especially notable given she is only 18 and competing in her first Asian Games individual event.
What has Anahat Singh said about the future of squash in India?
Anahat credited government support as a key driver of squash's growth in India, noting that the sport has expanded significantly in recent years. She urged young girls to pursue their passion with full commitment and expressed confidence that more Indian athletes will represent the country in squash and other sports at the highest level.
