Asian Games 2026: Anahat Singh, Abhay Singh Settle for Squash Silver as Malaysia Sweeps Singles Gold

India's squash campaign at the Asian Games 2026 ended on Sunday with two silver medals but no individual gold, as Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh fell to Malaysian opponents in their respective finals in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Anahat lost 3-0 to Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam in the women's singles final, while Abhay was defeated by defending champion Ng Eain Yow in the men's singles gold-medal clash.

Both Indians fought their way into the finals but could not overcome their Malaysian opponents, who claimed both singles gold medals and extended India's wait for an individual squash title at the Asian Games.

How did Anahat Singh lose the women's singles final?

Anahat Singh's bid for gold lasted just 27 minutes as Sivasangari Subramaniam controlled the women's singles final from the outset.

The Malaysian set the pace early, winning the first game 11-4 and leaving Anahat struggling to find a foothold in the contest. The second game followed a similar pattern, with Subramaniam again winning 11-4 to move within a game of the title.

Facing a straight-games defeat, Anahat found greater resistance in the third game. She pushed Subramaniam harder, but the Malaysian held her advantage and closed out the match 11-7 to secure the gold medal.

Anahat had to settle for silver after a final in which she could not quite match her opponent's consistency. The result nevertheless added another medal to India's tally and marked a significant achievement for the young Indian player.

Why did Abhay Singh lose the men's singles final?

Abhay Singh faced a difficult challenge against Malaysia's Ng Eain Yow, who entered the final looking to defend his Asian Games title.

The opening game offered Abhay his best opportunity to put pressure on the Malaysian. The Indian stayed in contention but narrowly lost 9-11, allowing Eain Yow to take the early advantage.

The second game proved more difficult. Eain Yow found his rhythm and pulled away to win 11-5, putting Abhay on the brink of defeat.

Abhay attempted to revive the contest in the third game, making a positive start and briefly building momentum. But Eain Yow regained control, once again winning 11-5 to complete a straight-games victory.

The 3-0 defeat left Abhay with the silver medal and denied him the men's singles gold that carried a direct Olympic qualification spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Games, where squash is set to make its Olympic debut.

How did Abhay Singh reach the Asian Games final?

Abhay's run to the final was a significant milestone in his career. He defeated Pakistan's Muhammad Irfan 11-3, 12-10, 11-6 in the semifinals to secure his place in the gold-medal match.

The achievement made him only the second Indian man after Saurav Ghosal to reach an Asian Games singles final.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed a productive 2026 season, winning the Indian Open in Mumbai and claiming his third Tuanku Muhriz Trophy title in Malaysia.

He was also part of India's gold-winning team at the 2025 SDAT Squash World Cup in Chennai and received the Arjuna Award in 2024.

Abhay reached a career-high PSA ranking of No. 22 in April 2026 and is currently ranked No. 26.

What do the two silver medals mean for India's Asian Games campaign?

The two squash silver medals took India's medal tally to 32 medals: four gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze.

Anahat and Abhay's performances gave India two podium finishes, even as the country missed out on the individual squash gold medals.

For Malaysia, the victories of Subramaniam and Eain Yow delivered a sweep of the singles titles.

India's search for an individual squash gold at the Asian Games, meanwhile, continues.