India secured two spots in the squash singles semifinals at the Asian Games on Friday, with Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh registering convincing straight-game wins in their respective quarterfinals.
Eighteen-year-old Anahat defeated compatriot Tanvi Khanna 11-2, 11-5, 11-3 in just 15 minutes to advance to the women’s singles last four. The Indian teenager dictated the contest from the beginning, using quick exchanges and precise drops to keep the 30-year-old Tanvi under constant pressure.
Anahat wrapped up the opening game in five minutes after establishing a commanding lead. Tanvi attempted to fight back in the second, but Anahat maintained her attacking approach to take it 11-5 before closing out the match with another dominant 11-3 game.
The Indian will next meet Japan’s Satomi Watanabe in the semifinal. The Japanese world No. 6 won a bronze medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. Anahat and Watanabe have faced each other once before, with the Indian initially taking a 2-0 lead before Watanabe altered her approach and completed a 3-2 comeback victory.
In the men’s singles, Abhay Singh made light work of Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue, winning 11-4, 11-3, 11-6 in 30 minutes. Abhay controlled the rallies throughout and prevented his opponent from establishing any sustained momentum.
Abhay’s semifinal opponent could be fellow Indian Veer Chotrani, who is scheduled to face Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan in the remaining quarterfinal later on Friday. A victory for Veer would set up an all-Indian last-four clash and assure India of at least a silver medal in the men’s singles event.
