Anahat Singh produced one of the standout performances of India's Asian Games 2026 campaign on Saturday, fighting back from two games down to defeat Japan's world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe 3-2 and become the first Indian woman to reach an Asian Games squash singles final.
A comeback for the ages
The 18-year-old Indian, seeded third, looked to be heading for defeat at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena as Watanabe — the second seed and a bronze medallist at the Hangzhou Games — took the opening two games 11-9 and 13-11. But Anahat refused to fold, saving match points in a dramatic third game that she edged 12-10.
The momentum shifted decisively. Anahat took the fourth game 11-6 and then dominated the decider 11-3, completing a 51-minute turnaround. The result also avenged her defeat to Watanabe earlier this year, when she had led 2-0 before losing 3-2.
"This is the best win of my career," Anahat said after the victory. "She's number six in the world but I wasn't really thinking too much about this, my mentality was that anything is possible on a stage like this."
History and a silver secured
The win guarantees Anahat at least a silver medal — her first individual Asian Games medal. At Hangzhou 2022, she had won bronze medals in the women's team event and mixed doubles but did not compete in the singles draw. Before this edition, Dipika Pallikal had been the only Indian woman to win a singles squash medal at the continental event.
Anahat entered the semifinal after a dominant quarterfinal win over compatriot Tanvi Khanna, 11-2, 11-5, 11-3. Her run caps a remarkable year: in February she won the Squash On Fire Open in the United States, breaking into the world's top 20 for the first time, and earlier in 2026 she became the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championships.
Olympic dreams in sight
The final carries extra significance because squash will make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, and the Asian Games women's singles gold medallist will receive a direct quota place for the Olympics. Anahat will face defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam of Malaysia in the gold-medal match, one win away from sealing her Olympic spot.
Sources:
Mint: Anahat Singh creates history, beats Japan's Satomi Watanabe to qualify for squash final
World Squash: Anahat Singh Completes Incredible Five Game Comeback to Reach 2026 Asian Games Final
A comeback for the ages
The 18-year-old Indian, seeded third, looked to be heading for defeat at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena as Watanabe — the second seed and a bronze medallist at the Hangzhou Games — took the opening two games 11-9 and 13-11. But Anahat refused to fold, saving match points in a dramatic third game that she edged 12-10.
The momentum shifted decisively. Anahat took the fourth game 11-6 and then dominated the decider 11-3, completing a 51-minute turnaround. The result also avenged her defeat to Watanabe earlier this year, when she had led 2-0 before losing 3-2.
"This is the best win of my career," Anahat said after the victory. "She's number six in the world but I wasn't really thinking too much about this, my mentality was that anything is possible on a stage like this."
History and a silver secured
The win guarantees Anahat at least a silver medal — her first individual Asian Games medal. At Hangzhou 2022, she had won bronze medals in the women's team event and mixed doubles but did not compete in the singles draw. Before this edition, Dipika Pallikal had been the only Indian woman to win a singles squash medal at the continental event.
Anahat entered the semifinal after a dominant quarterfinal win over compatriot Tanvi Khanna, 11-2, 11-5, 11-3. Her run caps a remarkable year: in February she won the Squash On Fire Open in the United States, breaking into the world's top 20 for the first time, and earlier in 2026 she became the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championships.
Olympic dreams in sight
The final carries extra significance because squash will make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, and the Asian Games women's singles gold medallist will receive a direct quota place for the Olympics. Anahat will face defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam of Malaysia in the gold-medal match, one win away from sealing her Olympic spot.
Sources:
Mint: Anahat Singh creates history, beats Japan's Satomi Watanabe to qualify for squash final
World Squash: Anahat Singh Completes Incredible Five Game Comeback to Reach 2026 Asian Games Final
