Anahat Singh settled for a silver medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 after the Indian squash player lost 0-3 to Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam in the women’s singles final on Sunday.
The 18-year-old Indian, ranked 17th in the world, lost 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 to Sivasangari, who came into the final as the world No. 5 and 2022 Asian Games champion.
The defeat also meant Anahat missed out on the quota place for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where squash will make its Olympic debut.
Sivasangari established control from the outset, taking the opening game 11-4. Anahat was unable to find a response in the second, as the Malaysian again prevailed 11-4.
The third game was more competitive, with Anahat putting up a stronger fight, but Sivasangari maintained her advantage to win 11-7 and complete a straight-game victory.
Despite missing out on gold, Anahat’s silver marked a landmark achievement for Indian squash. At just 18, she became the first Indian woman to reach an Asian Games singles final and win a silver medal in the event.
She surpassed the previous individual women’s achievements of Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa, who had both won bronze medals at the Asian Games.
The result also marked the first time India featured in both the men’s and women’s individual squash finals at the same edition of the Asian Games.
Abhay Singh falls short in men’s singles final
Earlier, Abhay Singh also settled for silver after losing 9-11, 5-11, 5-11 to Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow in the men’s singles final.
Abhay, ranked No. 26 in the world, was unable to match the consistency of the world No. 17 Malaysian, who defended his Asian Games title with a straight-game victory.
The defeat also meant Abhay missed the Olympic qualification spot reserved for the men’s singles gold medallist.
Abhay began the third game positively but could not maintain his momentum as Eain Yow gradually took control to close out the contest.
The 28-year-old had reached the final after defeating Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan 11-3, 12-10, 11-6 in the semifinals. He became only the second Indian man after Saurav Ghosal to reach an Asian Games singles final.
An Arjuna Award recipient in 2024, Abhay reached a career-high PSA ranking of No. 22 in April 2026 and is currently ranked No. 26.
Anahat and Abhay’s silver medals marked India’s campaign in the individual squash events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with the country featuring in both singles finals.