India Take Bronze After Hong Kong End Women’s Squash Team Gold-Medal Push at Asian Games

India’s women’s squash team secured a bronze medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 after Hong Kong defeated them 2-1 in a dramatic semifinal that swung repeatedly between the two sides.

The Indian team had already assured itself of a medal by reaching the last four, but the target on Thursday was to go one step further than the bronze won at the previous edition. Instead, a five-game thriller involving Anahat Singh, followed by a remarkable comeback from Tanvi Khanna and a decisive defeat for veteran Joshna Chinappa, brought India's campaign to an end.

The semifinal was decided by the narrowest of margins in its opening match, before Hong Kong eventually secured the tie through the third singles rubber.

Anahat Singh was handed the opening singles assignment against Hong Kong’s Chan Sin Yuk, and the Indian teenager appeared to have put India firmly in control. The opening game was closely contested at 8-7 before Anahat edged ahead and took it 11-9. She maintained that momentum in the second, with the scores level at 8-8 before the Indian produced three consecutive points to win 11-8.

Two games up, Anahat was within one game of giving India the perfect start. Chan, however, refused to go quietly. The Hong Kong player changed the momentum in the third game, moving into an 8-4 lead as Anahat briefly lost her rhythm. Chan closed it out 11-6 to bring the match back to 2-1.

The fourth game produced the most dramatic passage of the semifinal. Anahat recovered and established a 6-3 lead before building towards what appeared to be a decisive finish. She earned three match points, but Chan saved all three and dragged the game level at 10-10.

Another match point came and went. Then came a crucial stroke decision in Chan’s favour. Anahat appeared shocked by the call, which proved particularly costly given the stage of the match. Chan used the opportunity to force the contest into a decider, taking the fourth game 13-11.

The Indian had been four match balls away from closing out the tie, but suddenly had to start again.

The fifth game was understandably difficult for Anahat after the dramatic conclusion to the previous game. The Indian initially made a string of errors and fell behind but once again fought her way back into contention. The score reached 9-9, leaving the match effectively down to a handful of points.

Chan remained composed. The Hong Kong player found shots just outside Anahat’s strike zone and continued to make the Indian work for every point. Anahat saved a match ball, but Chan eventually converted another opportunity in extra points to win 10-12.

The official match score was 3-2 to Chan, with the games recorded as 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-13, 10-12. The defeat put India immediately on the brink. A second loss would end the semifinal.

Tanvi Produces a Stunning Response

India needed a victory from Tanvi Khanna in the second singles, and the Indian delivered under enormous pressure. Her opponent, Lee Ka Yi, was ranked significantly higher, but Tanvi responded after a difficult opening game. Lee took the first game 11-4, leaving India one defeat away from elimination.

Tanvi then changed the contest. She became increasingly proactive, using shots designed to test Lee’s reach and refusing to allow the Hong Kong player to settle into comfortable patterns. Tanvi edged the second game 13-11 before taking the third 11-9.

The fourth game was another battle of nerve. Lee continued to fight, but Tanvi remained aggressive and held her composure when the game entered its decisive phase. She eventually won it 13-11 to complete a 3-1 victory, 4-11, 13-11, 11-9, 13-11. The upset levelled the semifinal at 1-1 and sent the tie into a deciding third match.

It was exactly the response India needed after Anahat’s heartbreaking defeat.

Veteran Joshna Chinappa was then given the responsibility of keeping India’s gold-medal hopes alive. She faced Ho Tze Lok, listed as a world No. 39 opponent in the match account. Joshna battled throughout, but Hong Kong’s pace proved difficult to contain.

Ho took the opening game 11-4 and then moved 2-0 ahead with an 11-7 second-game victory. Joshna continued to fight in the third and saved five match balls, creating a late opportunity to extend the contest. But Ho eventually closed it out 11-9.

The 3-0 victory gave Hong Kong the deciding point and sent them into the final. For Joshna, who is 40, it was a determined effort in a difficult decider, but India could not find another comeback after Tanvi had levelled the tie.

India therefore finish with bronze in the women's team squash event. The result follows a strong campaign that saw the Indian team defeat Singapore 2-0 in the quarterfinals, with Tanvi and Anahat winning their singles matches. The semifinal demonstrated both the promise and the fine margins of India's women's squash team. Anahat came agonisingly close to giving India a 1-0 lead, Tanvi then produced one of the team's standout performances to level the contest, but Hong Kong ultimately prevailed in the decider.

India will leave the team event with a bronze medal, while Anahat and Tanvi's individual performances across the Games have provided further evidence of the depth within the women's squad.

The medal also adds to India's growing squash haul at Aichi-Nagoya, but the manner of the semifinal defeat will leave the team wondering how close it came to a place in the gold-medal match.