Anahat, Tanvi power India into squash semifinals, medal assured at Asian Games

India's Anahat Singh, right, shakes hands with Tanvi Khanna (PTI Photo)

India’s women’s squash team assured itself of an Asian Games medal after defeating Singapore 2-0 to progress to the semifinals on Wednesday.Tanvi Khanna set the tone with a gritty victory in the opening singles, overcoming Au Yeong Wai Iynn 11-6, 4-11, 15-13, 11-1 in a 32-minute contest.

Asian Games Full Coverage | Schedule | Medal TallyAfter being pushed in the second game, Tanvi regained control to edge a closely fought third game 15-13 before closing out the match comfortably in the fourth.In the second singles, young Anahat Singh, a silver medallist in the individual event, produced a dominant performance to beat Au Yeong Wai Yhann 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 in just 22 minutes.With India taking an unassailable 2-0 lead, veteran Joshna Chinappa did not need to take the court.

Joshna had earlier won a bronze medal in the mixed doubles event.India will face its semifinal opponent at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena on Thursday, with the team now assured of adding another medal to its Asian Games tally.The Indian women had finished their Pool C campaign with a 3-0 win over Iran on Tuesday. They had earlier defeated China and Japan in their opening two group matches.

The medal assurance comes on a day when India also secured another major archery triumph.

Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep defeated China 238-234 in the women’s compound team final to retain the Asian Games gold medal.The Indian compound team equalled Korea’s world record score with the victory. China’s Wunier, Yue Wang and Fangyao Wei took silver, while South Korea’s Park Jungyoon, Park Yerin and Kang Yeonseo defeated Chinese Taipei to win bronze.India had also beaten South Korea 234-233 in the semifinal to reach the final. The women’s compound team had won gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou as well.