Anahat Singh, Abhay Singh Face Malaysian Test At Asian Games
India鈥檚 Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh will face strong Malaysian challenges in the Asian Games squash competition after being handed the second and third seeds respectively in the singles draws.
The seedings, announced on Thursday and based on world rankings as of July 13, have raised expectations around India鈥檚 leading squash players, with the singles gold medallists also earning direct qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Anahat Singh Faces Defending Champion
Anahat Singh, India鈥檚 first junior world champion, has been seeded third in the women鈥檚 singles. The 18-year-old, ranked 20th in the world, is expected to challenge for a medal in the Asian Games squash event.
Her biggest threats include Malaysia鈥檚 fifth-ranked defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam and Japan鈥檚 world number six Satomi Watanabe.
Anahat recently lost to Subramaniam in the quarterfinals of the London Classic and will be eager to make amends on the Asian Games stage.
India will also have Tanvi Khanna in the women鈥檚 singles draw, with the former national champion seeded seventh.
Abhay Singh Gets Second Seed
In the men鈥檚 singles, world number 24 Abhay Singh has been given the second seed behind defending champion Eain Yow Ng of Malaysia, who is ranked 18th in the world.
India鈥檚 Veer Chotrani has been handed the fourth seed, giving the country two strong contenders in the men鈥檚 singles competition.
India have won three squash gold medals at the Asian Games but are yet to claim the top prize in either singles event. The opportunity to secure Olympic qualification adds further importance to the competition.
India Top Seeded In Team Event
India鈥檚 men鈥檚 squash team, comprising Abhay Singh, Veer Chotrani, V Senthilkumar and Suraj Kumar Chand, has been named the top seed ahead of Malaysia, Pakistan and Hong Kong.
The Anahat Singh-led women鈥檚 team has been seeded third, keeping India firmly among the medal contenders across the squash events.
Veteran Joshna Chinappa will also feature in her record seventh consecutive Asian Games appearance. She will compete in the mixed doubles and women鈥檚 team events.
Hangzhou Champions Eye More Gold
India enjoyed success in the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, winning gold in the men鈥檚 team and mixed doubles events.
Abhay Singh was part of the victorious men鈥檚 team, while Harinder Pal Sandhu and Dipika Pallikal secured mixed doubles gold. Sandhu is now part of India鈥檚 coaching staff.
With Olympic qualification on offer for the singles winners, Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh will carry significant expectations as India look to add their first Asian Games singles squash gold medals.
