Abhay Singh Wins Asian Games Squash Silver After Final Loss to Ng Eain Yow

India's wait for an individual squash gold at the Asian Games goes on. Abhay Singh lost the men's singles final 9-11, 5-11, 5-11 to Malaysia's Ng Eain Yow at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena on Sunday and finished with silver. For the result that sent him into the final, see our earlier coverage.

How the final slipped away

The opening game was the only one that stayed close. Abhay kept pace with the defending champion through most of it before Ng pulled away to take it 11-9. After that, the Malaysian's steadiness took over. He won the second game 11-5 as Abhay struggled to keep rallies going on his own terms.

Abhay started the third game well and looked like he might force a fourth. Ng gradually took the pace off the ball, closed down the angles, and finished the match 11-5 in straight games. The rankings pointed that way before a ball was struck: Ng is world No. 17 and Abhay is No. 26.

The win means Ng keeps the Asian Games title he won in Hangzhou, and Malaysia's strong record in the event continues.

The Olympic spot that got away

This final mattered for more than the medal. Squash makes its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028, and the men's singles gold medallist in Nagoya earns a direct qualification place. That place now goes to Ng. Abhay will have to find another route to the Olympics through the qualification pathways still to come.

A career-best run all the same

The silver is still a big result for the Arjuna awardee. By reaching the final he became only the second Indian man, after Saurav Ghosal, to play for the Asian Games singles title. His semifinal win over Pakistan's Muhammad Ashab Irfan was one of the cleanest performances India have had at these Games.

It also fits a strong season. Abhay reached a career-high PSA ranking of 22 in April, won the Indian Open in Mumbai, and claimed his third Tuanku Muhriz Trophy in Malaysia. He was also part of the India team that won the 2025 Squash World Cup in Chennai.

Where India stand

The silver is India's 31st medal of the Games: four gold, 13 silver and 14 bronze. That leaves the country 12th in the standings. Silvers have piled up at these Games, while golds have been harder to find.

Anahat's turn next

The spotlight now moves to 18-year-old Anahat Singh, who plays the women's singles final later on Sunday against Malaysia's defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam. Anahat reached the final by coming back from two games down to beat Japan's world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe. That was the first time an Indian woman had reached an Asian Games singles final in squash.

The women's final carries the same prize as the men's. A win would give India its first individual Asian Games squash gold and would also bring an LA 2028 Olympic berth, subject to qualification criteria. Sivasangari will start as favourite. She beat Anahat comfortably at the London Squash Classic earlier this year, and she reached this final without dropping a game.

This is an original summary based on public reporting. See our editorial policy for how we source, write, and correct our stories.