India, Sep 26 : India’s squash campaign at the 2026 Asian Games moved into an important phase on September 26, with several players competing in semifinal contests and securing medal opportunities in Aichi-Nagoya.
Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh were scheduled to compete in the women’s and men’s singles semifinals respectively, while Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar were set to contest the mixed doubles semifinal.
Anahat faced Japan’s Satomi Watanabe in the women’s singles semifinal. The Indian teenager had advanced through the earlier rounds to establish herself as one of India’s leading contenders in the event.
The semifinal represented another significant test for Anahat, who has emerged as one of the country’s prominent young squash players. A place in the final would put her within one victory of the Asian Games singles title.
On the men’s side, Abhay Singh was scheduled to meet Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan. The Indian player entered the semifinal after progressing through the earlier stages of the competition and was looking to secure a place in the gold-medal match.
The mixed doubles contest featured Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar against Hong Kong’s Tang Ming Hong and Lee Ka Yi. The Indian combination had reached the last four and was competing for a place in the final.
The Asian Games squash format also made the semifinal stage particularly important because losing semifinalists receive bronze medals. As a result, India’s players entered the day with the possibility of securing multiple podium finishes from the squash courts.
The performances in squash formed part of a busy September 26 schedule for the Indian contingent. The country also had medal opportunities in shooting and athletics, while badminton players including PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen were beginning their campaigns.
In shooting, Ashi Chouksey, Tilottama Sen and Vidarsa Vinod were scheduled to compete in the women’s 50m rifle three positions qualification and team final. The event offered another chance for India to add to its strong shooting medal record at the Games.
Athletics also remained an important part of the programme, with Tejaswin Shankar and Thowfeeq Noushad competing in the decathlon. Tajinderpal Singh Toor was among India’s other prominent athletes scheduled for action.
For squash, however, the focus remained on the three Indian combinations entering the semifinal stage.
Anahat’s progress was particularly significant because of the growing depth of India’s women’s squash programme. Her appearance in the singles semifinal gave India another opportunity to challenge for a medal in a discipline where the country has regularly featured among Asia’s leading squash nations.
Abhay’s semifinal also carried significance for the men’s team. His meeting with Pakistan’s Irfan added another high-profile contest to the Asian Games squash programme.
Chinappa and Senthilkumar, meanwhile, were aiming to continue their mixed doubles run. Their semifinal offered a separate medal route, giving India another chance to reach the final.
The three semifinal appearances meant India’s squash contingent was involved across different events on the same day. Success in the semifinals would have opened the way to gold-medal matches, while defeat would still leave the players with bronze medals under the competition format.
India’s broader Asian Games campaign had gained momentum on September 25, when the country collected six medals. Shooting supplied a gold and silver, athletics produced three medals and table tennis added bronze.
The squash events therefore provided another avenue for the Indian contingent to expand its medal tally on September 26.
Alongside the singles and mixed doubles semifinals, the day’s programme included badminton, kabaddi, boxing, fencing, hockey, shooting, athletics, canoe sprint and table tennis.
The results from squash were set to play an important part in India’s medal campaign as the Games entered another busy weekend. With three Indian entries reaching the semifinal stage, the sport offered multiple opportunities for podium finishes.
The September 26 programme thus placed considerable attention on India’s squash players, with Anahat Singh, Abhay Singh, Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar carrying the country’s challenge into the decisive stages of their respective events.