SportsPosted at: Sep 15 2026 5:52PM


India chase elusive Asian Games singles squash gold, direct LA 2028 berths

New Delhi, Sep 15 (UNI) The elusive Asian Games singles gold will be the biggest prize on India’s squash team’s radar when an eight-member contingent leaves Chennai for Japan on Friday for the Aichi-Nagoya Games, with the players also chasing an improvement on the country’s five-medal haul from the previous edition.

India has been a dominant force in Asian squash, winning 18 medals since the sport made its Games debut in 1998, but a singles gold has continued to elude the country. The stakes are even higher this time, with the men’s and women’s singles champions earning direct qualification for squash’s Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.

India won two gold medals at Hangzhou in 2022, held in 2023, through the mixed doubles pair of Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu and the men’s team. Saurav Ghosal added a silver in singles, while Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh won a mixed doubles bronze and the women’s team also finished third.

Ghosal’s silver medals in the men’s singles event in 2014 and 2022 remain India’s best individual finish in the discipline. Dipika won bronze in 2014 and 2018, while Joshna Chinappa also finished third in 2018.

India’s singles hopes this time will rest largely on the shoulders of junior world champion Anahat. The 18-year-old, ranked 20th in the world, is the third seed, while Abhay, ranked 24th, has been handed the second seeding in the men’s draw.

Veer Chotrani, ranked 38th in the world, is the fourth seed, while Tanvi Khanna, ranked 63rd, is seeded seventh in the women’s competition.

The squash competition will be held from September 23 to October 2 and will feature singles, mixed doubles and men’s and women’s team events.

Joshna will be at the centre of another significant milestone as she becomes the first Indian sportsperson to compete at seven consecutive Asian Games. The 39-year-old has featured at every edition since 2002 and will partner Velavan Senthilkumar in mixed doubles, with the pair seeded third.

Suraj Chand and Shameena Riaz, seeded ninth, will form India’s second mixed doubles pair. All eight players will also be part of the respective men’s and women’s team competitions.
Aichi-Nagoya will mark the Asian Games debut of Chotrani, Senthilkumar, Chand and Shameena, giving the squad a blend of established experience and emerging talent.

“We have a strong blend of continuity and new talent in both our men’s and women’s teams, and
I believe we have a very strong chance of improving on our medal tally from the last edition,”
said national coach Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu.

The support staff includes former world No. 1 James Willstrop, former India women’s player Surbhi Misra and physiotherapist Dimple Kamalakannan.
Sandhu, an Arjuna award winner, believes India has players capable of ending the wait for
a singles gold, although he remains wary of the strength of Asian opposition.

“We know the challenge is immense, but we also believe we have players capable of making that breakthrough. Anahat is now emerging as one of the leading players of her generation. Given her current form, confidence and progress on the international circuit, she certainly looks like one of our strongest prospects.

“We remain realistic and respectful of the quality of opposition in Asia. Our focus is on taking
one match at a time, executing our plans and ensuring that every player is fully prepared for the pressure of the Asian Games,” Sandhu added.
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Tags: #India chase elusive Asian Games singles squash gold# direct LA 2028 berths
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