Anahat Singh, Tanvi Khanna push India into squash semi-finals, medal assured at Asian Games

India’s Anahat Singh, right, shakes hands with Tanvi Khanna (PTI Photo) The Indian women’s squash team clinched an Asian Games medal after defeating Singapore 2-0 on Wednesday to advance to the semi-finals.Tanvi Khanna set the tone with a gritty victory in the opening singles, overcoming Au Yeong Wai Iynn 11-6, 4-11, 15-13, 11-1 in a 32-minute encounter.Asian Games full coverage | Schedule | Medal totalAfter being pushed in the second game, Tanvi regained control and overcame a tight third game 15-13 before closing out the match comfortably in the fourth.In the second singles, young Anahat Singh, the singles silver medallist, produced a dominant performance to beat Au Yeong Wai Yhann 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 in just 22 minutes.With India taking an unassailable 2-0 lead, veteran Joshna Chinappa did not have to take the court. Joshna had earlier won a bronze medal in mixed doubles.India will face their semi-final opponents at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena on Thursday, with the team now confident of adding another medal to their Asian Games list.The Indian women ended their Group C campaign with a 3-0 win over Iran on Tuesday. They had previously beaten China and Japan in their opening two group matches.The medal certainty comes on a day when India also secured another major archery triumph. Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep beat China 238-234 in the women’s composite team final to retain the Asian Games gold medal.The Indian mixed team equaled Korea’s world record score with the win. China’s Wunier, Yue Wang and Fangyao Wei won silver, while South Korea’s Park Jungyoon, Park Yerin and Kang Yeonseo beat Chinese Taipei to win bronze.India also beat South Korea 234-233 in the semi-finals to reach the final. The women’s composite team also won gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.