Asian Games: Joshna Chinappa makes history with sixth medal; Anahat, Abhay storm into semis as India secure three squash medals

Anahat Singh and Joshna Chinappa (PTI/ANI Photos) NEW DELHI: India clinched three squash medals at the 2026 Asian Games on Friday as Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar entered the semi-finals of the mixed doubles, while Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh advanced to the last four in the women’s and men’s singles.For Joshna, the semi-final placement had another meaning. The 40-year-old, competing in her record seventh Asian Games, secured her sixth medal at the continental showpiece with Senthilkumar. The Indian duo had a dominant 11-3, 11-5 win over Filipinos David Pelin and Jemyca Aribado in their quarter-final.Junior world champion Anahat and Abhay also continued their campaigns with straight-match wins, making India three assured medals in squash.Asian Games full coverage | Medal Tally | Schedule

Joshna sealed the sixth medal from the Asian Games

Joshna and Senthilkumar needed less than half an hour to dispatch the Filipino pair at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena. The Indians took control from the start, racing out to a 3-0 lead and quickly went up 9-2 before closing out the opening 11-3 in nine minutes.The second game was more competitive at first, with Pelino and Aribado cutting the deficit to 4-2. But Joshna and Senthilkumar again made it 7-2 and then 8-4 before closing out the match 11-5.They will face Hong Kong’s Yo Ka Lee and Ming Hong Tang in Saturday’s semi-finals.“Winning a medal for your country is always very special. And that has been my motivation throughout my career,” Joshna told PTI after the match.The medals will be six at Joshna’s Asian Games, including two silvers. Her previous medals include singles bronze in 2018, team silver in 2014 and 2018 and team bronze in 2010 and 2022.Joshna has now surpassed Saurav Ghosal’s record of six Asian Games appearances as he has participated in every edition since the 2002 Busan Games.

Anahat, Abhay march into singles semi-finals

Anahat continued her impressive campaign with a commanding 11-2, 11-5, 11-3 victory over compatriot Tanvi Khanna in the women’s singles quarter-finals.The junior world champion and medal favorite will now look to take the next step towards a gold medal and eventual Olympic qualification. The Asian Games singles gold medalists qualify directly for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squash will make its Olympic debut.In the men’s singles, Abhay overcame local favorite Ryonosuke Tsukue 11-4, 11-3, 11-6 to secure a place in the last four.He will face Pakistan’s Irfan Muhammad, who beat India’s Veer Chotrani 6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-3 in 41 minutes after recovering from the match.