India Squash Asian Games 2026: Singles Gold Remains Elusive
India Squash Asian Games 2026 Challenge Begins in Japan
India鈥檚 eight-member squash team will enter the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 with a clear objective: improve on its previous medal haul and finally win an individual singles gold. India has collected 18 squash medals since the sport made its Asian Games debut in 1998, including three gold, four silver and 11 bronze medals. However, none of those gold medals have come in singles.
At the 2022 Hangzhou Games, India won five squash medals, including gold in the men鈥檚 team event and mixed doubles. Saurav Ghosal鈥檚 silver in men鈥檚 singles was India鈥檚 best result in that category, while Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Joshna Chinappa have previously won women鈥檚 singles bronze medals.
India Squash Asian Games 2026 Singles Challenge Led by Anahat and Abhay
Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh will lead India鈥檚 singles challenge in Nagoya. Anahat, ranked World No. 20, is the third seed in the women鈥檚 singles, while Abhay, ranked World No. 24, is seeded second in the men鈥檚 event.
Anahat enters the competition after winning the World Junior Championship and has established herself among India鈥檚 leading young squash players. Her women鈥檚 singles challenge will include strong opposition from Malaysia鈥檚 top seed Sivasangari Subramaniam and Japan鈥檚 second seed Satomi Kaido.
Abhay will also face a difficult field, with Malaysia鈥檚 defending Asian Games champion Eain Yow Ng the top seed. India鈥檚 Veer Chotrani, ranked World No. 38 and seeded fourth, gives the country another strong option in the men鈥檚 draw.
India Squash Asian Games 2026 Squad Combines Experience and Youth
The Indian squad features a mixture of established players and Asian Games debutants. Tanvi Khanna, ranked World No. 63, is seeded seventh in the women鈥檚 singles, while Chotrani is fourth seed in the men鈥檚 event.
Veteran Joshna Chinappa is set to make history by competing at her seventh consecutive Asian Games. She will partner Velavan Senthilkumar in mixed doubles, with the pair seeded third. The second Indian mixed doubles combination is Suraj Chand and Shameena Riaz.
All eight Indian players will also compete in the respective team events, giving the squad opportunities across multiple competitions.
India Squash Asian Games 2026 Carries LA28 Significance
The singles competition carries added importance because the Asian Games singles champions will earn direct berths for squash鈥檚 Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028. That gives the Indian players an opportunity to compete not only for Asian Games medals but also for a place in Olympic history.
National coach Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu acknowledged the strength of the Asian field but said India has players capable of making the breakthrough. The squash competition runs from September 23 to October 2, covering singles, mixed doubles and men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 team events.
