India have won 18 medals \u2014 three gold, four silver and 11 bronze \u2014 in squash since the sport debuted at the Asian Games in 1998.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Although the country has grown into a squash powerhouse in the region, Saurav Ghosal\u2019s silver (2014 & 2022) in men\u2019s and bronze by Dipika Pallikal Karthik (2014 & 2018) and Joshna Chinappa (2018) in women\u2019s remain India\u2019s best singles performances in the continental extravaganza.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At Hangzhou, the two gold medals were won by Dipika and Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu in mixed doubles and the men in the team event, silver by Ghosal in singles and the two bronze by Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh in mixed doubles and the women in team competition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The squash event at this Asiad will be held between Sept 23 and Oct 2 featuring singles, mixed doubles and men\u2019s and women\u2019s team competitions, with the singles champions earning direct berths for the sport\u2019s Olympic debut at Los Angeles in 2028.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Women\u2019s world No 20 and reigning junior world champion Anahat (third seed) and men\u2019s world No 24 Abhay (second seed) will spearhead India\u2019s challenge in singles along with men\u2019s world No 38 Veer Chotrani (fourth seed) and women\u2019s world No 63 Tanvi Khanna (seventh seed).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Joshna, who will become the first Indian sportsperson to compete in seven consecutive Asian Games, will be partnering Velavan Senthilkumar in mixed doubles and are seeded third, with Suraj Chand\/ Shameena Riaz (9th seed) forming the second mixed doubles pair.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
All eight players will feature in the respective men\u2019s and women\u2019s team competitions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former women\u2019s world No 10 Joshna, 39, has competed in every Asiad since 2002, while Aichi-Nagoya will see Chotrani, Senthilkumar, Chand and Shameena make their Asian Games debut.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe have a strong blend of continuity and new talent in both our men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams, and I believe we have a very strong chance of improving on our medal tally from the last edition,\u201d said national coach Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former women\u2019s world No 10 Joshna, 39, has competed in every Asiad since 2002, while Aichi-Nagoya will see Chotrani, Senthilkumar, Chand and Shameena make their Asian Games debut.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On the elusive singles gold, player-turned-coach and Arjuna award winner Sandhu said, \u201cWe know the challenge is immense, but we also believe we have players capable of making that breakthrough.<\/p>\r\n\r\n