Asian Games : It’s Eain Yow and Siva again !!

There was double delight for Malaysia as Sivasanagri Subramaniam and Eain Yow Ng claimed Gold at the 2026 Asian Games to become the first-ever squash players to qualify for the LA28 Olympic Games (subject to meeting final qualification criteria).

Photos from WSF

Defeating India’s Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh in straight games, the Malaysian duo successfully defended their titles and make history in the process; with Yow Ng becoming the first Malaysian male player to win back-to-back titles in 20 years, while Sivasangari became the first Malaysian women’s player to win back-to-back Asian Games titles since former eight-time World Champion Nicol David.

With a place at LA28 confirmed, Ng, said: “It feels amazing, I am still processing it and I think I will need to give it time to sink in. But I am more proud of today’s performance than the Gold medal to be honest, as knowing that I can put up that kind of performance after a tough week, makes me feel really proud.

“I am so happy that I was able to enjoy the moment, as there was so much pressure on the occasion – there are so many expectations put on us, but today was all about staying focused right to the very end.”

On her place at the LA28 Olympic Games, Subramaniam said: “There is always pressure in these types of matches, not only as the defending champion, because there was so much at stake, so I was just trying to put those emotions away.

“I am really happy that I was able to hide those emotions away and just try to play my best squash on-court, so being able to secure the gold medal is a really good feeling.”

Meanwhile in the Mixed Doubles competition, it was Hong Kong, China’s Ka Yi Lee and Tang Ming Hong who secured the Gold medal, after an intense battle against their teammates Tse Yee Lam Toby and Lai Cheuk Nam.

Day Four: Anahat upsets Satomi as finalists decided in Japan

Semi-finals day at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena started with the mixed doubles, with Hong Kong duos Lee Ka Yi & Tang Ming Hong and Toby Tse & Matthew Lai both beat higher-seeded pairs to reach the final.

Then it was on to the singles semis, with a shot at Olympic qualification on the line.

First up was home favourite Satomi Watanabe, and when the second seed went two games up all was looking good, but India’s Anahat Singh pulled a game back on extra points and went on to dominate the next two games to secure a spot in the final. There she’ll meet top seed and defending champion Siva Subramaniam, who won her repeat of the 2023 final against Hong Kong’s Chan Sin Yuk, this time in straight games.

“I think this is the best win of my career,” said Singh. “She’s number six in the world but I wasn’t really thinking too much about this, my mentality was that anything is possible on a stage like this. “You know, you’re representing your country, and you just have to really show what your capability is. So, I think that’s what really pushed me over the edge and motivated me to keep pushing.”

Men’s top seed and defending champion Eain Yow Ng kept hopes of a Malaysian repeat double alive as he despatched Pakistan’s Noor Zaman in straight games, setting up a final against India’s Abhay Singh after the second seed ended the run of Pakistan’s Muhd Ashab Irfan in straight games.

Tomorrow’s main finals – with the first confirmed spots in the LA2028 draws the bonus prize for the winners – start at 16.00 (04.00UK). tomorrow. You may be able to watch live if your local broadcaster has the games, or on asiangamestv.

Day Three : Semi-Finalists settled in Japan

The third day of action at the impressive Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena saw the semi-finalists decided in both Men’s and Women’s draws.

Home favourite Satomi Watanabe was the first winner of the day as the second seed beat compatriot Akari Midorikawa in straight games. She’ll face 3/4 seed Anahat Singh in the semis after she won her all-Indian match against Tanvi Khanna in three games. In the top half of the draw Malaysia’s top seed and defending champion Siva Subramaniam won in three close games against Tomato Ho, but there will be Hong Kong representation in the semis after 5/8 seed Chan Sin Yuk came from a game down to beat 3/4 seed Aira Azman.

In the men’s draw top seed Eain Yow Ng kept his title defence on track with a three-game win over Alex Lau that lasted just short of an hour. His semi-final opponent will be 3/4 seed Noor Zaman after the Pakistan #1 ended Hong Kong interest with a four game win over Henry Leung. Second seed Abhay Singh beat Japan’s last hope Ryiunosukue in straight games, but it won’t be the predicted all-Indian semi-final after Pakistan’s Muhd Ashab Irfan downed 3/4 seed Veer Chotrani in  four games.

The semi-finals of all three events (Men’s, Women’s, Mixed Doubles) take place tomorrow. You may be able to watch live if your local broadcaster has the games, or on asiangamestv.

Draws & Results on TS  Official Asian Games Site

Day Two : Top eights through to Quarters in Japan

The second day of action at the impressive Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena saw the top eight seeds in both men’s and women’s draws win through to the quarter-finals.

Most of the matches were comfortable three-game wins, but Hong Kong duo Alex Lau and Henry Leung both had to work hard for their wins, Lau coming from two games down to deny Japan’s Tomotaka Endo while Leung needed an hour to see off Korea’s Jooyoung Na in four games. India’s Veer Chotrani was also tested, squeezing past Malaysia’s Sanyay Jeeva in an 81-minute five-setter.

In the women’s draw India’s Tanvi Khanna was the only one of the top seeds to drop a game.

The quarter-finals of all three

Day One : Seeds progress as Olympic Qualification event begins in Japan

Action in the first of the Olympic Qualification events got under way with 17 men’s and 11 women’s matches (plus 3 mixed doubles) as the last sixteens were decided in both draws at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena

There were no significant upsets with the top eight seeds in both draws advancing, with just three 9/16 seeds beaten. Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue [5/8], Akari Midorikawa [5/8] and Tomotaka Endo [9/16] all advanced safely, joining women’s second seed Satomi Watanabe in the next round, while men’s top seeds Eain Yow Ng and Abhay Singh progressed in style.

Preview : First Olympic spots up for grabs in Japan

The Asian Games – Aichi-Nagoya 2026 -take place in Japan later this month, with the first Squash spots at at 2028 LA Olympics up for grabs for the eventual winners. The individual events run from 23rd to 27th Sep at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena, with doubles and team events following on.

Among the favourites to claim the singles titles are Malaysian duo Sivasangari Subramaniam and Eain Yow Ng, who were Asian Games champions in Hangzhou in 2023 and top seeds again this year in Nagoya. Satomi Watanabe represents Japan’s best hopes for a home winner,  while India’s Abhay Singh is also seeded two and is aiming to become India’s first-ever individual champion.

PRESS: PAKISTAN – THREE SISTERS IN THE SELECTION!