Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh both reached the squash singles finals at the Asian Games 2026 on September 27, with a gold medal for either carrying direct qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics.
Linking a continental gold medal to Olympic qualification changes the character of a match. It is no longer only about the Asian Games title itself, but about a much longer-term opportunity that will not repeat for another four years.
That added stake is also why the routes each player took to the final matter. Anahat’s five-game comeback against a higher-ranked opponent suggests composure under pressure, a quality that tends to matter more, not less, when an Olympic spot is riding on the outcome.
Squash’s inclusion at the LA 2028 Games for the first time also raises the profile of this particular Asian Games edition for the sport specifically, since qualification pathways for a debut Olympic sport are watched more closely than they would be for an established one.
Whatever the results, having two Indian finalists in the same edition of the Games, in a sport with a clear route to the Olympics, is itself a signal of a broader base of competitive players coming through, rather than a single standout athlete carrying the sport alone.
Squash is set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Both finals were scheduled for September 27 at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Anahat Singh had earlier called her semifinal comeback win the career-best performance of her career.
India’s squash programme has produced a strong pipeline of young players in recent years.
The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.
India’s broader medal tally at these Games has included medals in shooting, hockey, cricket and weightlifting.
Malaysia has traditionally been one of the strongest squash nations in Asia.
Squash court (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0