Abhay Singh storms into Asian Games squash final, moves closer to historic gold and LA28 berth

India’s Abhay Singh moved one step closer to a historic Asian Games gold medal and a potential ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics after powering past Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan in straight games to reach the men’s singles squash final on Saturday.

The World No. 26 produced a composed performance to defeat Irfan 11-3, 12-10, 11-6, booking his place in the gold-medal match and joining compatriot Anahat Singh, who had earlier secured a spot in the women’s singles final.

Abhay’s achievement also puts him in select company. He is only the second Indian man to reach the Asian Games men’s singles final, following Saurav Ghosal, who won silver at the 2014 and 2023 editions.

The Indian started the semifinal on the front foot, taking the opening game 11-3. Irfan, who had eliminated India’s Veer Chotrani in the quarterfinals, raised his level in the second game and pushed Abhay all the way to 10-10.

However, Abhay held his nerve when it mattered most, winning the next two points to take the game 12-10 and establish a 2-0 lead.

He maintained control in the third game, creating four match points before converting the first to complete a straight-games victory.

Abhay could face another Pakistani opponent in the final. Noor Zaman is scheduled to take on Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng in the second semifinal later on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the title clash.

Earlier, 18-year-old Anahat Singh produced one of the day’s biggest comebacks in squash, defeating Japan’s world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe 3-2 in a thrilling semifinal.

Anahat lost the opening two games 9-11, 11-13 and appeared to be in serious trouble when she trailed 8-10 in the third. But she saved both game points, turned the momentum around and took the game 12-10.

She then carried that momentum into the fourth and fifth games, winning them 11-6 and 11-3 to complete a remarkable comeback and reach her maiden Asian Games singles final.

With both Abhay and Anahat now in the individual gold-medal matches, India has a major opportunity to strengthen its position in squash at the continental level.

The stakes are even higher this time, as winning gold in their respective individual squash events at the Asian Games would provide a direct qualification route to the LA 2028 Olympics, subject to the applicable qualification criteria.

The two Indian finalists will now be looking to turn their breakthrough performances into Asian Games gold — and potentially secure India’s presence in Olympic squash at Los Angeles 2028.