‘It Is The Best Win Of My Career': Anahat Singh Stuns Watanabe To Reach Asian Games Final

Anahat Singh produced one of the most memorable comebacks of her young squash career at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, fighting back from two games down to defeat Japan's Satomi Watanabe and book her place in the women's singles final.

The 18-year-old Indian overcame a difficult start to prevail 3-2 (9-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 11-3) in a gripping semi-final on Saturday. The result not only secured an Asian Games medal for Anahat but also gave her the biggest victory of her career.

Watanabe came into the contest with a higher world ranking, making the challenge even tougher for the young Indian. But despite losing the opening two games, Anahat stayed composed and gradually turned the contest on its head.

Her coaches played a crucial role in keeping her focused when the match appeared to be slipping away.

"The first two games, my coaches were just mainly telling me not to get too stressed out and that I'm playing the right game. I just really need to make sure that I'm doing it continuously and not only towards the end of the games. They just kept pushing me and telling me that you're doing well, you're doing well.

You just have to keep doing this from the beginning. They just kept reminding me what I'm playing for and that you're representing your country and you just have to really show what you're capable of. I think that's what really pushed me over the edge and motivated me to keep pushing and hopefully win the matches as well." Anahat Said.

The victory also carried a personal significance for Anahat.

The Indian had faced Watanabe earlier this year and had been in a strong position after winning the opening two games. However, she eventually suffered a five-game defeat.

This time, the script was completely different. After Watanabe took a 2-0 lead, Anahat refused to let the earlier result or the situation affect her mindset. She began to find her rhythm, stayed aggressive, and slowly put pressure back on the Japanese player.

"This is my second time playing against her. The last time she won, I was 2-0 up and I ended up losing after being 2-0 up. It was the other way around this time. I think it is the best win of my career. She's number 5 in the world and that's the highest win I've ever had in my squash career. I'm just really happy.

I wasn't really thinking too much about that. I just thought of her as another opponent who I've played once before, and I've had a close game with. Anything is possible in a stage like this.
It just depends on who has the right mentality and who's really willing to give it all on foot."

The turnaround, however, was far from straightforward.

During the third game, Anahat collided with Watanabe while attempting to reach the ball and hit her head against her opponent's shoulder. She needed medical attention and later revealed that she had injured her jaw and bitten her tongue, which caused bleeding.

Yet she returned to the court and continued the fight.

Anahat edged the crucial third game 12-10 before taking the fourth 11-6. With the match level at 2-2, the momentum was firmly on the Indian's side.

The deciding game saw Anahat take complete control. She raced to an 11-3 win to complete a remarkable 3-2 comeback and secure her place in the gold medal match.

Anahat's progress at the Asian Games has also underlined her development over the past three years.

At Hangzhou 2023, she was the youngest member of the Indian contingent. Her primary objective at the time was to gain experience and understand what it meant to compete alongside some of the country's most established athletes.

This time, she arrived in Aichi-Nagoya with significantly greater expectations - and has responded by reaching the singles final.

"I think my last Asian Games was very different. I went into those Games trying to get experience. Being in a very new atmosphere and environment around the top players. I had never been in a place like that before. Coming into this time, it's been three years since then. There's been a lot of different changes in my career. There's been a lot that I've learnt and of course I've grown as well. Coming into this event, there was a lot expected. I wanted to actually learn from the last time I played this event. Get a medal, nd take it further, and hopefully go to the Olympics tomorrow."

The opportunity in front of Anahat is now even bigger.

The singles champions at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games can earn LA 2028 Olympic quota places, subject to the relevant qualification requirements, including the PSA ranking criterion.

For Anahat, the Olympic possibility is not something she is trying to push out of her mind. Instead, she sees it as fuel to keep fighting.

"I do focus on that. But 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 sport go by so quickly. You really need to push for it. That's what just kept replaying in my head over and over. I think that's just something that really motivates me rather than something that's pressure that you're supposed to be in the Olympics or qualify for the Olympics. I still have a match left in my opening tomorrow. 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. Hopefully, it can be the other way around like it was today."

One more victory now stands between Anahat and the Asian Games singles title.

After turning a 0-2 deficit into the biggest win of her career, the 18-year-old Indian will head into the final with momentum, belief and the chance to finish her remarkable campaign with gold.