Asian Games 2026: Ganesh adds bronze to India’s archery haul as Anahat-led squash team wins bronze

One Indian campaign ended with another medal. Another showed just how brutally thin the line between a final and a bronze can be. At the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, India’s compound archers continued their remarkable run as Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru won individual bronze on Thursday, taking the discipline’s medal tally to four. On the squash court, Anahat Singh, Tanvi Khanna and Joshna Chinappa fought their way to a women’s team bronze after a gripping semifinal defeat to Hong Kong.

Two sports, two very different routes to the podium and another busy day for India at the Asian Games.

Ganesh Mani Ratnam wins bronze to complete India’s four-medal compound archery haul

Ganesh had already stood on the top step of the podium as part of India’s victorious men’s compound team. On Thursday, he returned to the range looking for an individual medal. The 20-year-old began the knockout phase by beating Chinese Taipei’s Chieh-Lun Chen 148-138 in the quarterfinals, according to ANI. His semifinal against South Korea’s Kim Jongho was a different challenge. Ganesh lost 144-148, ending his hopes of reaching the gold-medal contest. But there was still a podium place to fight for.

In the bronze-medal match against Vietnam’s Cong Duc Dang, Ganesh produced a composed 149-144 victory. PTI reported that the Indian hit 14 of his 15 arrows in the contest as he secured bronze. The result gave Ganesh two medals at these Games: team gold and individual bronze.

India’s compound archers leave Aichi-Nagoya with three golds and a bronze

Ganesh’s result completed an extraordinary campaign for India in compound archery. The Indian contingent collected three gold medals and one bronze across the men’s team, women’s team, mixed team and men’s individual events. The men’s team of Ganesh, Kushal Dalal and Sahil Jadhav defeated China 238-237 in a closely fought final.

India’s women’s trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep then defeated China 238-234 to retain their Asian Games title. Their score also equalled the world record of 238 set by South Korea in 2014. India added another gold in the mixed team event, completing a clean sweep of the team competitions. Ganesh’s bronze meant India also finished with an individual medal from the discipline.

Anahat Singh’s four missed match points change the course of India’s squash semifinal

If the archery story was about India repeatedly converting opportunities, the squash semifinal was about how quickly one match can turn. India faced Hong Kong in the women’s team semifinal, with Anahat Singh, Tanvi Khanna and Joshna Chinappa carrying the Indian challenge. Anahat appeared to have put India in control against Sin Yuk Chan. The teenager won the first two games, but the match slipped away. She had four match points but could not convert them, eventually losing 2-3 in a marathon contest that ended 10-12 in the fifth game. The defeat meant India needed to win both remaining matches to reach the final, PTI reported.

Tanvi Khanna keeps India alive before Joshna Chinappa faces the decider

Tanvi responded exactly when India needed her to. After losing the opening game against Ka Yi Lee, she fought back to win the next three, taking the match 3-1 with scores of 13-11, 11-9 and 13-11. Suddenly, the semifinal was level at 1-1. Everything came down to Joshna Chinappa. The experienced Indian faced Ho Tze Lok in the deciding match, but Hong Kong closed out the contest with an 11-4, 11-7, 11-9 victory.

Hong Kong advanced to the final, while India secured bronze in the women’s team event.

From archery golds to squash bronze, India keeps adding to its Asian Games haul

There is an interesting contrast in the two results. India’s compound archers leave Aichi-Nagoya having dominated the team events and added Ganesh’s individual bronze to their haul. The squash team, meanwhile, had to survive a tense semifinal campaign in which Anahat came within four match points of putting India ahead before Hong Kong fought back. But the destination was the same. Another Indian medal. Ganesh’s bronze took India’s compound archery tally to four. Anahat, Tanvi and Joshna ensured India would also leave the women’s squash team event with a place on the podium.

And at an Asian Games where margins can be measured in a single arrow, a single point or a single match point, both medals tell their own story.

(With inputs from agencies)