Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar stormed into the squash mixed doubles semifinals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Friday, 25 September, guaranteeing India at least a bronze medal in the event. The pair swept past the Philippines' Jemyca Aribado and David Pelino 2-0 (11-3, 11-5) in the quarterfinals, barely breaking a sweat in a dominant display at Nagoya.

A Historic Outing for Joshna

Joshna Chinappa, who claimed her first Asian Games medal at Guangzhou 2010, is competing at the continental showpiece for a record seventh consecutive time. The forthcoming semifinal medal will be her sixth Asian Games medal overall — a remarkable feat that cements her status as one of India's greatest squash exports. Her partner Velavan Senthilkumar has complemented her experience with sharp court sense throughout the campaign.

Their semifinal opponents will be Hong Kong, China's Lee Ka Yi and Tang Ming Hong, with the match scheduled for Saturday, 26 September.

Olympic Qualification Stakes Add Bigger Weight

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games carry significant long-term implications beyond the medal tally. The men's and women's singles champions will earn direct qualification spots for the LA 2028 Olympics, where squash will make its historic debut as an Olympic sport. That added dimension has sharpened competitive intensity across all categories at Nagoya.

India's Squash Legacy at Asian Games

India arrived at the 2026 edition on the back of a stellar showing at Hangzhou 2023, where the country claimed five squash medals — two golds, one silver, and two bronze. The men's team won gold, and India also topped the podium in the mixed doubles event. Saurav Ghosal added a silver in men's singles, while the women's team and mixed team each secured bronze.

Several familiar faces are again at the fore this cycle. Anahat Singh, Joshna Chinappa, and Tanvi Khanna were all part of the bronze-winning women's and mixed team campaigns in Hangzhou. The Indian squad is coached by Harinder Pal Sandhu, himself a gold medallist from the men's team event at Hangzhou 2023.

India's Swimmers Also Make Waves

On the same day, India registered encouraging performances in the pool at Nagoya. Rishabh Das qualified for the men's 200m backstroke final, clocking 2:00.53 to finish fourth overall across the heats. Utkarsh Patil also advanced, placing ninth with a time of 2:02.13.

Veteran swimmer Sajan Prakash booked his spot in the men's 200m butterfly final with a time of 2:00.94, finishing sixth in the heats. However, Aneesh Sunil (3:58.08) and Dhakshan Shashikumar (3:58.73) missed out on the men's 400m freestyle final, finishing 17th and 18th respectively — with only the top 10 qualifying.

What to Watch Next

India's squash pair face a stern test against Hong Kong, China in Saturday's semifinal, with a shot at gold still very much alive. A positive outcome in the swimming finals would add further depth to India's overall medal haul at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 edition — and with Olympic qualification on the line in singles, the remainder of the squash draw will be followed closely across the country.