Aichi-Nagoya, 01 October (H.S.): India’s women’s squash team settled for the bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games after losing 1-2 to Hong Kong in a closely fought semifinal. Hong Kong secured victory to advance to the final.

In the opening match, Anahat Singh made an impressive start against Hong Kong’s Sin Yuk Chan, winning the first game 11-9. After the score reached 8-7, Anahat held her composure under pressure to take the game. In the second game, she responded strongly after the score was level at 8-8, winning three consecutive points to take it 11-8 and establish a 2-0 lead in the match.

Sin Yuk Chan then mounted a comeback. Anahat’s momentum was disrupted in the third game as Chan moved 8-4 ahead before closing it out 11-6. Anahat again started strongly in the fourth game, taking a 6-3 lead and earning three match points. Chan saved all three with a determined fightback to level the score at 10-10.

Anahat was unable to convert another match point, and after Chan was awarded a stroke, the contest was taken into a deciding fifth game.

India levelled the semifinal through a strong comeback from Tanvi Khanna, who defeated Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yi, ranked 33 places higher than her, 3-1. Tanvi lost the opening game 4-11 but responded by winning the second 13-11.

She then took the third game 11-9 before holding her nerve in a tense fourth game to win 13-11 and put India back in contention.

Tanvi adopted an aggressive approach throughout the contest, repeatedly testing Lee’s reach and movement. With the fourth game tied at 11-11, she remained composed in the deciding points to close out the game 13-11 and keep India’s medal hopes alive.

However, experienced player Joshna Chinappa could not complete the comeback in the decisive match. The 40-year-old Indian was beaten 3-0 by Hong Kong’s Ho Tze Lok, who won 11-4, 11-7, 11-9.

Joshna fought hard during the closing stages and saved five match points, but she was unable to overcome the pace of the Hong Kong player, ranked 39th in the world.

With the victory, Hong Kong won the semifinal 2-1 and advanced to the final, while India secured the bronze medal.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar