India’s Anahat Singh scripted history at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya by becoming the first Indian woman to win a silver medal in the women’s singles squash event. The 18-year-old reached the final before losing 11-4, 11-4, 11-7 to Malaysia’s world No. 5 and top seed Sivasangari Subramaniam at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena on September 27.
Although Anahat missed out on the gold medal, her silver marks a significant milestone for Indian squash. Before her, Indian players Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal had won bronze medals in women’s singles at the Asian Games, but no Indian woman had reached the singles final.
Key Highlights:
- Anahat Singh becomes the first Indian woman to win Asian Games singles squash silver
- The 18-year-old rallies past Japan’s Satomi Watanabe to reach the final
- Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam wins gold with a straight-games victory
Anahat produced a strong campaign on her way to the title clash. She began with a 3-0 victory over Singapore’s Wai Lynn Au Yeong before defeating compatriot Tanvi Khanna 3-0 in the quarter-finals. Her most dramatic performance came in the semi-final, where she fought back from two games down against Japan’s world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe to win 9-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 11-3. The comeback saw her save two match points and secure her place in the final.
The final, however, proved to be a difficult contest for the Indian teenager. Sivasangari controlled the first two games and built an early lead. Anahat attempted to fight back in the third game, but the Malaysian maintained her lead to complete a straight-games victory. The result also repeated Sivasangari’s recent success over Anahat at the London Squash Classic earlier in September.
The silver capped a breakthrough year for Anahat, who has established herself as one of India’s leading young squash players. Earlier in 2026, she became the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championship, adding another major achievement to her growing international record.
Anahat had also entered the Asian Games with previous experience at the continental event. At the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, she was the youngest member of India’s squash contingent and won bronze medals in the women’s team and mixed doubles events. Her performance in Nagoya has now taken her individual Asian Games record to another level.
The defeat also meant that Anahat missed the opportunity to secure a direct LA 2028 Olympic quota through the Asian Games singles title. Squash will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, adding further significance to the singles competition in Nagoya.
India also secured another squash silver that day, with Abhay Singh finishing runner-up in the men’s singles event. He lost 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 to Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow, meaning both singles gold medals went to Malaysia.
Despite missing the top step of the podium, Anahat Singh’s historic silver strengthens India’s presence in women’s squash and adds another landmark achievement to her 2026 season. With the team squash events still ahead at the Asian Games, Indian players will have further opportunities to add to the country’s medal tally.
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