Aichi-Nagoya: India’s Anahat Singh will face Japan’s Satomi Watanabe in the women’s singles squash semifinal at the 2026 Asian Games on Saturday, September 26, with a place in the final and an assured medal at stake.

The semifinal is scheduled for around 10:30 am IST at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena. The match will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on SonyLIV in India.

Anahat reached the last four after defeating compatriot Tanvi Khanna in the quarterfinals on Friday. Watanabe, meanwhile, advanced to the semifinal stage as Japan’s representative and will now face the Indian teenager for a place in the women’s singles final.

When is Anahat Singh vs Satomi Watanabe?

The Asian Games 2026 women’s singles squash semifinal between Anahat Singh and Satomi Watanabe will take place on Saturday, September 26.

The match is listed for 10:30 am IST, although the exact start could depend on the schedule of preceding matches at the venue. NDTV’s Asian Games schedule lists Anahat’s semifinal at 10:35 am, while other event schedules list it at 10:30 am.

The match will be played at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena in Japan.

Where to watch Anahat vs Watanabe live?

Indian viewers can watch the Anahat Singh vs Satomi Watanabe semifinal live on the Sony Sports Network.

The match will also be available for live streaming on SonyLIV through its website and app. Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV are carrying coverage of the Asian Games 2026 in India.

Viewers should check their local listings and the SonyLIV platform closer to the scheduled start time in case of changes to the broadcast schedule.

How did Anahat reach the semifinal?

Anahat entered the Asian Games women’s singles competition as one of India’s key squash players.

The 18-year-old began her campaign with a straight-games victory over Singapore’s Au Yeong Wai Iynn. She then progressed to the quarterfinals, where she faced fellow Indian Tanvi Khanna in an all-India contest.

Anahat produced a dominant performance against Tanvi, winning 11-2, 11-5, 11-3. The match lasted only 19 minutes and secured her place in the last four.

The victory was particularly significant because both players are teammates and have faced each other several times previously.

Anahat said the all-Indian quarterfinal carried additional pressure because she and Tanvi spend considerable time together while travelling and competing. She was nevertheless pleased with the way she handled the match and secured a comfortable victory.

Anahat has faced Watanabe before

The semifinal will not be Anahat’s first meeting with Satomi Watanabe.

The Indian teenager said Watanabe defeated her 3-2 in their previous encounter. Anahat also revealed that she had watched that match repeatedly and studied what she needed to change before their Asian Games meeting.

Watanabe is currently ranked among the world’s top squash players and was a bronze medallist at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. The Japanese player therefore brings considerable experience into the semifinal.

Anahat has indicated that she intends to approach the contest one step at a time rather than focus on expectations surrounding the match.

Medal already assured for Anahat

By reaching the women’s singles semifinal, Anahat has already assured herself of at least a bronze medal.

In squash at the Asian Games, losing semifinalists receive bronze medals, meaning the two players who lose their respective last-four matches will still finish on the podium.

Anahat’s semifinal is therefore also an opportunity to progress into the gold-medal match.

The other women’s singles semifinal features the other players in the final four, while India’s Abhay Singh will also compete in the men’s singles semifinal on Saturday. Abhay is scheduled to face Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan at around 11:15 am IST.

India’s strong squash campaign

India has already secured multiple squash medals at the 2026 Asian Games.

Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar reached the mixed doubles semifinal, assuring India another medal. Anahat and Abhay then joined them in the singles semifinals, giving India three assured squash medals from the events covered by the report.

Joshna, who is competing at her seventh Asian Games, has already secured her sixth medal at the continental event through her mixed doubles campaign with Velavan.

The performances have added to India’s medal prospects in squash as the sport continues to feature prominently in the country’s Asian Games campaign.

Anahat’s Olympic qualification opportunity

The women’s and men’s singles events at the 2026 Asian Games also carry significance beyond the continental competition.

According to PTI, the Asian Games singles gold medallists will directly qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squash is scheduled to make its Olympic debut.

That makes Anahat’s semifinal particularly important in the context of her international career. A victory against Watanabe would take her into the Asian Games women’s singles final and leave her one win away from the title and direct Olympic qualification.

However, the immediate focus remains Saturday’s semifinal against the Japanese player.

Anahat Singh vs Satomi Watanabe: Full details

Match: Anahat Singh vs Satomi Watanabe
Event: Asian Games 2026 women’s singles squash semifinal
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: Around 10:30 am IST
Venue: Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
TV: Sony Sports Network
Live streaming: SonyLIV
Medal status: Both semifinalists are assured of at least a bronze medal

Anahat’s victory over Tanvi Khanna has taken her into the final four, but the Indian teenager now faces a more experienced opponent in Watanabe. With an Asian Games final place and a potential direct route to the 2028 Olympics on the line, the semifinal will be one of India’s key squash contests on September 26.