India defeated Japan 2-1 in the women’s squash team event at the 2026 Asian Games on Monday, with Tanvi Khanna sealing the tie after Anahat Singh’s five-game defeat to Satomi Watanabe.
Joshana Chinappa gave India an early lead with an 11-1, 11-8 victory over Japan’s Erisa Sano in the opening match. Anahat was then up against Watanabe, who had beaten the Indian in the opening game 11-8. However, Anahat responded strongly, winning the next two games 11-8 and 11-7 to take a 2-1 lead.
Watanabe forced a decider by winning the fourth game 11-8 before completing the comeback with an 11-9 victory in the fifth game.
Watanabe won the match 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9 to level the tie at 1-1. Tanvi then stepped up against Akari Midorikawa in the deciding match and secured a 12-10, 11-9, 4-11, 12-10 victory to seal India’s 2-1 win over Japan.
The victory came after India had earlier defeated China 2-1 in their opening women’s team event match.
(ANI)
