Indian teenager Anahat Singh produced a remarkable comeback against Japan’s higher-ranked Satomi Watanabe to reach the women’s singles final at the Asian Games squash event on Saturday, while Abhay Singh also booked his place in the men’s singles title clash.
Anahat and Abhay are now one win away from securing a spot at the 2028 Olympics, with the Asian Games men’s and women’s singles gold medallists earning direct qualification for the Games.
The 18-year-old Anahat pulled off the biggest win of her career as she recovered from a two-game deficit to defeat world No. 6 Satomi 3-2 in a thrilling 51-minute semifinal at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena.
Anahat won 9-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 11-3, exacting revenge for her previous five-game defeat against the Japanese player.
"The last time she won, I was 2-0 up and I ended up losing. And I mean, it was the other way around this time," Anahat said after the match.
The prospect of an Olympic qualification spot was also on Anahat's mind as she fought her way back into the contest after falling two games behind.
"I do focus on that. It's something that I think of it more like something that's motivating rather than pressure. When I was losing, the first thought that came into my mind was you can't let the Olympic spot go by so quickly and you really need to push for it. That's what kept replaying in my head over and over and I think that's something that motivates me rather than pressure that you are supposed to be in the Olympics," Anahat said.
Anahat had looked close to defeat after losing the opening two games. She had managed to draw level at 6-6 in the first before Satomi moved ahead and eventually closed it out 11-9.
The second game followed a similar pattern. Anahat fought back from behind to level the score at 10-10 and then moved to 11-10, but Satomi responded strongly to win the next three points and take the game 13-11.
The Indian then produced the turnaround that changed the match. Trailing 8-10 in the third game, Anahat won four straight points to take it 12-10.
She carried that momentum into the fourth, where she again recovered from an early deficit to make it 6-6 before putting together five consecutive points to force a decider.
Anahat's control, precision and well-executed drops continued to trouble Satomi, who struggled to regain the momentum she had established early in the match.
The deciding game was largely one-way traffic. Anahat dominated the exchanges, produced at least three fine drops and capitalised on a series of unforced errors from Satomi to complete the comeback.
The semifinal was briefly interrupted after the two players collided during the second game, with Anahat receiving medical attention.
"I bit my tongue. So it was bleeding, nothing serious," she said.
Anahat, the junior world champion, will face Malaysia’s world No. 5 Sivasangari Subramaniam in Sunday’s final. Sivasangari defeated Hong Kong’s Chan Sin Yuk in the other semifinal.
"I still have a match left. If I end up playing the number one seed, she's a great player. I've played her numerous times before. I'm just excited to get on the court and see what I can do," said the junior world champion.
Abhay sets up Malaysia clash
Abhay Singh, meanwhile, had a relatively easier route to the final as he defeated Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan 3-0 in 35 minutes.
Abhay won 11-3, 12-10, 11-6 to make the title clash. He had earlier won gold in the men’s team event and bronze in mixed doubles at these Games.
"It was not an easy one. I think I did well to make it easy, but respect to your opponent. No Asian Games match is going to come easy," Abhay said later.
He will take on Malaysia’s NG Eain Yow in Sunday’s final. NG Eain Yow defeated Pakistan’s Zaman Noor in the other semifinal.
"I think all the people listening to you love the India-Pakistan stuff, but for us it's just another opponent, just another match. Too many people put too much work into us, you have to come in and do them justice."
