Abhay Singh, Veer Chotrani, and Tanvi Khanna all advanced to the Round of 16 in the squash singles draw at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on Wednesday, 23 September, giving India a confident opening to its campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. The trio's straight-game victories set the stage for a strong Indian showing, with a fourth contender, Anahat Singh, yet to enter the fray.

Abhay Singh's Dominant Display

Second seed Abhay Singh produced the most commanding performance of the day, dispatching Thailand's Arkaradet Arkarahirunya by 11-1, 11-0, 11-2 — conceding just three points across the entire match. The scoreline was a statement of control from the opening rally, underlining his status as one of the tournament's leading contenders.

Chotrani and Khanna Ease Through

Veer Chotrani was tested briefly by Sri Lanka's Shamil Wakeel in the opening game but found his rhythm to close out a 11-8, 11-3, 11-3 win in the men's Round of 32. Tanvi Khanna was equally composed, beating South Korea's Dami Kim 11-5, 11-7, 11-5 to kick off her women's singles campaign with a straight-game victory. Both players progressed without dropping a game.

Anahat Singh Next Up on Thursday

Attention now shifts to Anahat Singh, India's highest-ranked player at world No. 17, who is scheduled to begin her campaign on Thursday, 24 September. She will face Singapore's Au Yeong Wai Lynn in her Round of 32 opener. Should Anahat come through, India could have all four squash players in the last 16 simultaneously.

Olympic Qualification on the Line

The singles competition at these Games carries stakes well beyond a continental medal. The men's and women's singles champions at Nagoya will earn direct qualification berths for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where squash is set to make its long-awaited Olympic debut. That added dimension transforms every round into an elimination-style qualifier, raising the pressure — and the opportunity — for the entire Indian contingent. Notably, this is the first Asian Games cycle in which squash gold translates directly into an Olympic ticket, making the draw in Nagoya arguably the most consequential in the sport's Asian history.

India's Squash Outlook at Nagoya

With three players already through and Anahat to come, India's squash contingent has made a brisk start. The combination of established seeds like Abhay and emerging talent like Anahat gives the team genuine medal prospects across both draws. The coming rounds will test depth and consistency, with stiffer Asian opposition expected from the quarterfinals onward.