AICHI-NAGOYA, Japan | September 27, 2026 —
India enters one of its busiest medal days at the Asian Games 2026 on Sunday, with Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh chasing squash gold medals, Manu Bhaker leading India’s shooting challenge and a powerful athletics lineup preparing for multiple finals later in the day.
The biggest spotlight falls on squash. Abhay Singh will face Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow in the men’s singles final at 12:30 PM IST, before teenage star Anahat Singh takes on Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam in the women’s singles gold-medal match at 1:30 PM IST.
India will also look for medals in weightlifting, athletics and shooting as action continues throughout September 27.
THE 60-SECOND BRIEF
Squash: Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh play separate singles gold-medal matches.
Shooting: Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Rahi Sarnobat compete in the women’s 25m pistol event.
Weightlifting: Harjinder Kaur competes in the women’s 69kg medal event.
Athletics: Shaili Singh, Ancy Sojan, Animesh Kujur, Sarvesh Kushare and Parul Chaudhary headline a packed evening of finals.
Badminton: Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand, Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto and India’s singles players have key knockout matches.
Hockey: India’s women face Singapore in their pool match.
Anahat Singh Chases Asian Games Gold
Anahat Singh has emerged as one of India’s biggest stories in squash at the Asian Games.
She will face Malaysian star Sivasangari Subramaniam in the women’s singles final at 1:30 PM IST.
The final guarantees India at least a silver medal, but Anahat will enter the contest with an opportunity to convert that assured medal into gold.
Her rise has added a new dimension to Indian squash, and Sunday’s final gives her a major continental stage to underline that progress.
Abhay Singh Faces Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow
Before Anahat takes the court, Abhay Singh will compete in the men’s singles final.
He faces Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow at 12:30 PM IST.
Like Anahat, Abhay has already secured at least a silver medal by reaching the final.
A victory would give India a prestigious singles gold and could make September 27 a landmark day for Indian squash.
Manu Bhaker Leads India’s 25m Pistol Challenge
India began the women’s 25m pistol competition with a high-profile trio of Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Rahi Sarnobat.
The precision qualification and team competition began at 6:10 AM IST.
All three shooters carry significant international experience, making the event one of India’s key shooting opportunities of the day.
India is also competing in men’s and women’s trap qualification.
Harjinder Kaur in Weightlifting Medal Event
Harjinder Kaur takes part in the women’s 69kg weightlifting medal event at 10:00 AM IST.
Her event gives India another direct opportunity to add to its medal total before the squash finals begin.
Weightlifting has already been one of the sports closely watched by Indian supporters during the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
Athletics Could Deliver a Big Evening for India
India’s athletics campaign becomes particularly important during the afternoon and evening session.
Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan compete in the women’s long jump final at 3:35 PM IST.
Shortly afterward, Harita Bhadra and Unnathi Bolland are scheduled for the women’s 200m final at 3:55 PM IST.
Animesh Kujur competes in the men’s 200m final at 4:05 PM IST.
At 4:15 PM IST, Sarvesh Kushare and J Aadarsh Ram take part in the men’s high jump final.
Nandhini Kongan then competes in the women’s 100m hurdles medal event at 4:53 PM IST.
One of the evening’s biggest races arrives at 5:52 PM IST, when Parul Chaudhary and Ankita compete in the women’s 3000m steeplechase final.
Tejaswin Shankar Continues Decathlon Campaign
Tejaswin Shankar remains another athlete to watch closely.
He and Thowfeeq Noushad continue the men’s decathlon across several disciplines during the day, including pole vault, javelin and the 1500m.
The final standings will depend on points accumulated across all ten decathlon events, making consistency crucial throughout Sunday.
Badminton Knockout Battles Add More Pressure
India also has important badminton contests on September 27.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand face Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan in the women’s doubles quarterfinal.
In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto face China’s Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dongping.
India also has women’s singles knockout action, adding another layer to an already crowded day.
Boxing Quarterfinals Could Secure More Medal Opportunities
India’s boxers also enter important quarterfinal bouts.
Ankush faces Tajikistan’s Nekruz Salimov in the men’s 80kg division.
Parveen takes on Uzbekistan’s Navbakhor Khamidova in the women’s 65kg quarterfinal.
Sachin Siwach faces Japan’s Shunsuke Kitamoto in the men’s 60kg category, while Narender meets Thailand’s Adthapong Saengtep in the men’s 90kg quarterfinal.
Winning these bouts would move the Indian boxers closer to the medal rounds.
India Women Face Singapore in Hockey
India’s women’s hockey team faces Singapore at 3:30 PM IST in a pool-stage match.
The match comes during a packed afternoon when Indian athletes will simultaneously compete across squash, athletics, boxing and other sports.
India’s Key Medal Events Today
10:00 AM – Weightlifting: Harjinder Kaur, women’s 69kg
12:30 PM – Squash: Abhay Singh vs Ng Eain Yow, men’s singles final
1:30 PM – Squash: Anahat Singh vs Sivasangari Subramaniam, women’s singles final
3:35 PM – Athletics: Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan, women’s long jump final
3:55 PM – Athletics: Harita Bhadra and Unnathi Bolland, women’s 200m final
4:05 PM – Athletics: Animesh Kujur, men’s 200m final
4:15 PM – Athletics: Sarvesh Kushare and J Aadarsh Ram, men’s high jump final
4:53 PM – Athletics: Nandhini Kongan, women’s 100m hurdles
5:52 PM – Athletics: Parul Chaudhary and Ankita, women’s 3000m steeplechase final
All timings are in IST and may shift depending on competition progress or official scheduling changes.
Why September 27 Could Be Crucial for India
India has medal opportunities across several sports today, but squash and athletics provide the clearest concentration of finals.
Two squash finals within an hour of each other could set the tone for the afternoon.
Then athletics takes over, with Indian competitors appearing in medal events across jumps, sprints, hurdles and steeplechase.
A strong conversion rate in these finals could significantly strengthen India’s campaign at the Asian Games 2026.
What Happens Next
The immediate focus will remain on the squash finals involving Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh.
After that, attention shifts toward the athletics stadium, where several Indian medal contenders compete from mid-afternoon into the evening.
Results from shooting, boxing, badminton and weightlifting will also determine how successful September 27 ultimately becomes for India.
INVC NEWS Bottom Line
September 27 is packed with medal opportunities for India at the Asian Games 2026.
Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh have direct shots at squash gold, while India’s athletics lineup could turn the evening into one of the most important sessions of the Games.
From shooting and weightlifting in the morning to squash in the afternoon and athletics in the evening, Indian supporters have a full day of high-stakes action ahead.
