Aichi-Nagoya: India secured another medal at the Asian Games 2026 after veteran Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar entered the semifinals of the mixed doubles squash event on Friday. The Indian pair defeated the Philippines’ David Pelino and Jemyca Aribado in straight games to guarantee themselves at least a bronze medal.

The Indian duo produced a dominant display in their quarter-final, winning 11-3, 11-5 in less than half an hour. Their victory took them into the last four, where they will face Hong Kong’s Yo Ka Lee and Ming Hong Tang on Saturday.

Chinappa and Velavan dominate quarter-final

Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar controlled their quarter-final against the Filipino combination from the beginning.

The Indians took the first game 11-3 before maintaining their momentum in the second. Pelino and Aribado were unable to mount a sustained challenge as Chinappa and Velavan closed out the contest 11-5.

The straight-games victory meant the Indian pair spent less than 30 minutes on court, allowing them to progress to the semifinals without dropping a game in the quarter-final.

Their win also ensured India would add another medal to its Asian Games 2026 campaign. In squash, a semifinal appearance guarantees at least a bronze medal, with the winners of the two semifinals advancing to the gold-medal match.

Joshna Chinappa adds another Asian Games medal

The achievement is particularly significant for 40-year-old Joshna Chinappa, who has now assured herself of a sixth Asian Games medal.

Before the 2026 Games, Chinappa had won two silver and three bronze medals at the continental event. Her latest medal comes in mixed doubles alongside Velavan Senthilkumar.

Chinappa has been one of India’s most experienced squash players and has represented the country at multiple editions of the Asian Games. Her continued presence at the highest level has added experience to India’s squash campaign in Aichi-Nagoya.

The medal also adds to a long continental record that has seen Chinappa contribute to India’s squash success over several editions of the Asian Games.

Semifinal against Hong Kong awaits

Chinappa and Velavan will now turn their attention to the semifinal against Hong Kong’s Yo Ka Lee and Ming Hong Tang.

The match is scheduled for Saturday and will determine whether the Indian pair progresses to the final and gets an opportunity to compete for gold and silver.

Regardless of the semifinal result, India is guaranteed a medal through the mixed doubles pairing. A victory would take the duo into the final, while a defeat would leave them with the bronze medal.

For Chinappa, the semifinal also provides another opportunity to add to her impressive Asian Games medal collection. Velavan, meanwhile, will be looking to help India push for a place in the gold-medal contest.

India continue strong squash campaign

The mixed doubles medal assurance came during a productive period for India’s squash contingent at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

Earlier, four Indian singles players — Anahat Singh, Tanvi Khanna, Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani — had progressed to the quarterfinals of their respective competitions. Chinappa and Velavan had also reached the mixed doubles quarterfinals after defeating compatriots Suraj Chand and Shameena Riaz in the last 16.

Chinappa and Velavan had won that all-Indian contest 2-0, with the games ending 11-7 and 11-10. They then followed it up with another straight-games victory against the Philippines pair in the quarter-final.

Their progress has given India another medal opportunity in a sport where the country has traditionally been competitive at the Asian Games.

India’s medal tally gets another boost

The squash medal assurance came as India continued its campaign at the 2026 Asian Games. According to the medal tally displayed by NDTV on Friday morning, India had 17 medals — one gold, seven silver and nine bronze — before the newly assured squash medal was formally added.

The mixed doubles result means India has secured another podium finish, although the colour of the medal will depend on the outcome of the semifinal and final.

The focus will now shift to Saturday’s semifinal, when Chinappa and Velavan take on the Hong Kong pair. A win would put the Indians in contention for gold, while a semifinal loss would confirm a bronze medal.

For Chinappa, the result is another milestone in a long Asian Games career. For Velavan, it represents an opportunity to add a major continental medal alongside one of India’s most experienced squash players.