India’s squash medal hopes received a boost as Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh secured top seedings in the Asian Games singles draw, announced Thursday.
Abhay, ranked 24th in the world, has been awarded the second seed in men’s singles, trailing defending champion Eain Yow Mg of Malaysia. Rising star Anahat, world number 20 and India’s first junior world champion, is seeded third in women’s singles, behind Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam and Japan’s Satomi Watanbe.
The stakes are high as singles winners will earn direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squash will make its debut. India, despite winning three Asian Games golds, has never topped the singles podium.
The Indian men’s team, comprising Abhay, Veer Chotrani (seeded fourth), V Senthilkumar and Suraj Kumar Chand, has been awarded the top seed. The women’s team, led by Anahat and supported by veteran Joshna Chinappa in her record seventh Asian Games appearance, is seeded third.
India had clinched men’s team and mixed doubles gold in the previous edition at Hangzhou. With stronger seedings this year, hopes are high for a breakthrough in singles.
