Nagoya, September 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar secured the bronze medal in squash mixed doubles after losing to Hong Kong, China’s Lee Ka Yi and Tang Ming Hong in a closely fought semifinal at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena on Saturday.
The Indian pair went down 1-2 (10-11, 11-2, 10-11) in a nerve-racking contest and missed out on a place in the final.
Chinappa and Senthilkumar had three match points in the deciding game after taking an 10-8 lead. However, they were unable to convert their opportunities, with Chinappa hitting one shot out of bounds as the Hong Kong pair clinched the game and the match.
The medal is Chinappa’s sixth at the Asian Games. The veteran squash player had previously won three bronze and two silver medals, although an Asian Games gold remains missing from her collection.
Chinappa and Senthilkumar had secured a medal for India by reaching the semifinals after defeating the Philippines’ Jemyca Aribado and David Pelino 2-0 (11-3, 11-5) in their quarterfinal on Friday.
Chinappa is not competing in the singles event at the 2026 Asian Games, with India fielding Anahat Singh and Tanvi Khanna in the women’s singles competition.
Anahat is bidding to reach her first Asian Games final and will face Japan’s Satomi Watanabe in the singles semifinal. She defeated compatriot Tanvi in the quarterfinals on Friday.
In the men’s singles, India’s Abhay Singh is scheduled to face Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan in the semifinal on Saturday.
India entered the 2026 Asian Games following a successful squash campaign at Hangzhou 2023, where the country won five medals — two gold, one silver and two bronze.
The Indian men’s team won gold in Hangzhou, while India also finished on top in mixed doubles. Saurav Ghosal won silver in men’s singles, while India claimed bronze medals in the women’s team and mixed team events.
Anahat was part of the bronze-medal-winning women’s and mixed teams at the previous Asian Games, while Chinappa and Tanvi also featured in the women’s team event.
Harinder Pal Sandhu, a gold medallist with India’s men’s team at Hangzhou, is coaching the Indian squash contingent at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
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