Asian Games: Joshna makes history with sixth medal; Anahat, Abhay storm into semis

Anahat Singh and Joshna Chinappa (PTI/ANI Photos)

NEW DELHI: India assured themselves of three squash medals at the Asian Games 2026 on Friday as Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar entered the mixed doubles semifinals, while Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh advanced to the last four in the women’s and men’s singles respectively.For Joshna, the semifinal berth carried added significance. The 40-year-old, competing at her record seventh Asian Games, secured her sixth medal at the continental showpiece with Senthilkumar. The Indian duo produced a dominant 11-3, 11-5 win over the Philippines’ David Pelino and Jemyca Aribado in their quarterfinal.

Junior world champion Anahat and Abhay also continued their campaigns with straight-game victories, leaving India with three medal assurances across the squash events.Asian Games Full Coverage | Medal Tally | Schedule

Joshna seals sixth Asian Games medal

Joshna and Senthilkumar needed less than half an hour to dispatch the Philippine pair at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena. The Indians took control from the start, racing to a 3-0 lead and quickly extending it to 9-2 before wrapping up the opening game 11-3 in nine minutes.The second game was more competitive initially, with Pelino and Aribado reducing the deficit to 4-2. But Joshna and Senthilkumar shifted gears again, moving to 7-2 and then 8-4 before closing out the match 11-5.

They will face Hong Kong’s Yo Ka Lee and Ming Hong Tang in Saturday’s semifinal.“Winning a medal for your country is always very special. And that's been my motivation all my career,” Joshna told PTI after the match.The medal will take Joshna’s Asian Games tally to six, including two silver. Her previous medals include a singles bronze in 2018, team silver in 2014 and 2018, and team bronze in 2010 and 2022.Joshna has now surpassed Saurav Ghosal’s record of six Asian Games appearances, having competed at every edition since the 2002 Busan Games.

Anahat, Abhay march into singles semifinals

Anahat continued her impressive campaign with a commanding 11-2, 11-5, 11-3 victory over compatriot Tanvi Khanna in the women’s singles quarterfinal.The junior world champion and medal favourite will now look to take another step towards the gold medal and a potential Olympic qualification. The singles gold medallists at the Asian Games will directly qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squash will make its Olympic debut.

In the men’s singles, Abhay overcame local favourite Ryonosuke Tsukue 11-4, 11-3, 11-6 to book his place in the last four.He will face Pakistan’s Irfan Muhammad, who defeated India’s Veer Chotrani 6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-3 in 41 minutes after recovering from a game down.