India vs India at Asian Games: Anahat Singh takes on Tanvi Khanna in squash quarter-finals

India enjoyed a strong day in squash at the Asian Games on Thursday as Anahat Singh, Tanvi Khanna, Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani advanced to the singles quarterfinals. Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar also booked their place in the mixed doubles quarterfinals in Aichi-Nagoya.World junior champion Anahat opened her singles campaign with a 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-7) win over Singapore’s Wai Iynn Au Yeong in just 19 minutes.Tanvi Khanna also moved into the last eight after beating Singapore’s Wai Yhann Au Yeong 3-1 (5-11, 11-4, 11-5, 13-11) in a 39-minute match.These two wins set up the All India Women’s Singles quarter-finals between Anahat and Tanvi.Unlike the previous edition, players who reach the semi-finals are not guaranteed a medal in the singles competition. The two losing semi-finalists will play for the third place play-off, which will decide the bronze medal.In the men’s singles, Abhay Singh won 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-0) over Sri Lanka’s Ravindu Laksiri in 25 minutes to reach the quarterfinals.Abhay will next face Japan’s Ryunosuke in the Round of 16.Veer Chotrani also advanced after a five-match series against Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeev. Veer won 3-2 (11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 15-17, 11-6) in a match that lasted one hour and nine minutes.He will face Pakistan’s Irfan Muhammad in the quarterfinals.Earlier in the day, Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar advanced to the mixed doubles quarterfinals with a straight games win over Indians Suraj Chand and Shameena Riaz in the round of 16.The Indian pair, who won bronze at the Asian Championships, defeated Suraj and Shameen 11-7, 11-10.Joshna and Velavan will face the Filipino pair of David Pelino, Jemyca Aribado in the quarterfinals on Friday.