India women’s squash team settle for bronze after Hong Kong edge semi-final

India secured the bronze medal in the women’s team squash competition at the Asian Games after going down 2-1 to Hong Kong in a closely fought semi-final at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena on Wednesday.

The tie began with a dramatic five-game battle between Anahat Singh and Chan Sin Yuk. Anahat, who had already won a silver medal in the women’s singles, pushed Chan all the way before losing 3-2 (11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-13, 10-12). The Indian youngster had multiple match points in the third game but could not convert them as Chan fought back to seal the contest.

Tanvi Khanna then kept India’s hopes of reaching the final alive with an impressive 3-1 comeback win over world No. 40 Lee Ka Yi. After dropping the opening game 4-11, Tanvi rallied to win the next three 13-11, 11-9, 13-11 and level the tie at 1-1.

The deciding match, however, went Hong Kong’s way as Joshna Chinappa was beaten 3-0 by Ho Tze Lok (4-11, 7-11, 9-11), handing Hong Kong a place in the final and leaving India with the bronze medal.

The medal marks another podium finish for India in squash at the Aichi-Nagoya Games and Anahat’s second medal of the competition. She had earlier claimed silver in the women’s singles.

Joshna, Tanvi and Anahat were also members of India’s bronze-medal-winning women’s team at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. Anahat had additionally won bronze in the mixed team event at Hangzhou.

India has now collected four squash medals at the 2026 Asian Games. Earlier in the competition, the mixed doubles pairing of Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar won bronze.

India had also reached both singles finals, with Anahat and Abhay Singh finishing with silver medals. Anahat lost the women’s singles final to Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam 0-3 (4-11, 4-11, 7-11), while Abhay was beaten 0-3 (9-11, 5-11, 5-11) by Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow in the men’s final.

Abhay became only the second Indian man to win an Asian Games silver in men’s singles, after Saurav Ghosal, who reached the final at Incheon 2014 and Hangzhou 2023.

India entered the Aichi-Nagoya Games on the back of a strong showing at Hangzhou 2023, where it won five squash medals — two gold, one silver and two bronze. The men’s team and mixed doubles pair won gold, while Ghosal took silver in men’s singles and India added bronze medals in the women’s team and mixed team events.