Asian Games 2026: Anahat Singh, Abhay Singh reach squash semifinals

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Indian squash players Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh powered their way into the women’s and men’s singles semi-finals, respectively, at the Asian Games 2026 after claiming straight-game triumphs in their quarterfinal matches on Friday.

The 18-year-old Anahat delivered a commanding performance against fellow Indian star Tanvi Khanna, defeating the 30-year-old 3-0 (11-2, 11-5, 11-3) in the women’s singles quarterfinal. Anahat was in total control with an 11-2 opening game win. Though Tanvi tried to rally in the second, Anahat maintained her momentum to take it 11-5 before wrapping up the match with an 11-3 scoreline in the third.

Anahat now advances to face Japan’s Satomi Watanabe, the world No. 6 and a bronze medalist from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. Their previous encounter saw the Japanese player come back from a two-game deficit to win 3-2.

In the men’s draw, Abhay Singh secured his semifinal spot with a dominant 3-0 (11-4, 11-3, 11-6) victory over Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue lasting 30 minutes. Abhay kept his opponent under constant pressure to advance cleanly. He will face Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan in the semi-final after he defeated India’s Veer Chotrani in the other quarterfinal.

India confirm medal in Kabaddi and Shooting

The reigning champion Indian women’s kabaddi team dominated their way into the final at the 2026 Asian Games, with a commanding 48-24 victory over Nepal in Friday’s semi-final clash in Aichi-Nagoya.

Indian mixed doubles shooting pair Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won the country’s second gold medal of the Asian Games, winning the 10m air pistol mixed team event.

The Indian duo posted a combined total of 484.6 points in the gold medal match to defeat South Korea, which settled for silver with 478.0 points. Iran captured the bronze medal after scoring 415.8 points, while Indonesia finished on 349.4 points and bowed out. 

Diya Chitale and Manush Shah (table tennis), along with Joshana Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar (squash), advanced to their respective mixed doubles semifinals to assure India of medals, while Abhay Singh entered the men’s singles squash semis. 

In hockey, the women’s team defeated Japan 3-1. Meanwhile, Indian athletes advanced in swimming, badminton, and kayaking, while facing mixed fortunes in fencing, canoe sprint, and esports.

(With inputs from ANI)

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