India's squash sensation Anahat Singh fell short of the gold medal in the individual final at the Asian Games. Facing Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam in the summit clash, Anahat suffered a 0-3 defeat. The loss meant the young Indian player had to settle for a silver medal instead of the top podium finish. Furthermore, the outcome resulted in her missing out on securing a direct Olympic quota, as squash is set to make its historic debut at the Olympic Games.
Unable to Replicate Semifinal Heroics
Prior to this final, the 18-year-old Indian junior champion had pulled off a remarkable comeback victory against world number six Satomi Watanabe of Japan in the semifinals. However, Sivasangari entered the court with a clear game plan and executed it to perfection. The Malaysian player denied Anahat any opportunity to hit winners, maintaining constant aggressive pressure throughout the match to seal the three games 11-4, 11-4, 11-7.
Complete Control by the Malaysian Rival
During the title match against Sivasangari Subramaniam, Anahat could not summon the same magical form that carried her through the previous rounds. The Malaysian opponent kept her tactical discipline intact, neutralizing the Indian star's attacking strokes. While missing out on the gold and the Olympic ticket comes as a setback, the young Gen Z athlete's remarkable run to the final remains a proud milestone for Indian squash.
