SportsPosted at: Sep 27 2026 5:52PM


Asian Games squash: Malaysian roadblock denies Anahat, Abhay direct LA Olympic berths

New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) Two finals, two silver medals and two Olympic dreams left just out of reach. For Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh, the Asian Games offered a glimpse of what might have been, as both Indians came within one victory of securing a direct ticket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics before falling to Malaysian opponents in the squash singles finals on Sunday.
Anahat, the 18-year-old junior world champion, had already produced one of the tournament’s most memorable comebacks, overturning a two-game deficit against world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe in the semifinal on Saturday.
But against defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam, there was no way back as the Malaysian controlled the final from the start to win 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena.
The defeat denied Anahat a direct Olympic qualification berth, with the Asian Games singles gold medallists earning a place at the 2028 Games, where squash will make its Olympic debut.
There was still history for the Indian teenager as she became the first Indian woman to win a silver medal in the Asian Games women’s singles event.
Sivasangari dictated the rallies with her attacking game, taking the opening two games 11-4, 11-4. Anahat showed some resistance in the third but could not extend the contest, with the Malaysian closing out the match 11-7.
Abhay faced a similar fate in the men’s final, losing 9-11, 5-11, 5-11 to Malaysia’s world No. 17 Ng Eain Yow. The opening game was closely fought, but Eain gradually seized control and denied Abhay any chance of a comeback to successfully defend the title he won at Hangzhou in 2023.
Abhay became only the second Indian man after Saurav Ghosal to win an Asian Games singles silver. Ghosal had also won silver in 2014 and 2023.
India’s squash campaign had already yielded a bronze through Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar in mixed doubles. The pair lost a closely fought semifinal 1-2 (10-11, 11-2, 10-11) to Hong Kong, China’s Tang Ming Hong and Lee Ka Yi on Saturday.
For 40-year-old Joshna, competing at her seventh Asian Games, the bronze was her sixth medal at the continental showpiece, taking her tally to two silver and four bronze medals.UNI TB AAB
Tags: #Asian Games squash: Malaysian roadblock denies Anahat# Abhay direct LA Olympic berths
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