Anahat Singh stages dramatic comeback to reach Asiad squash final

Anahat Singh produced a remarkable turnaround at the Asian Games squash competition on Saturday, advancing to the women's singles final with a hard-fought 11-9, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 11-3 victory over Japan's Satomi Watanabe. The Indian teenager, who trailed 0-2 in the five-game encounter, demonstrated exceptional mental resilience to overcome the world number 6 player at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena. The win adds significance given Singh's earlier defeat to the same opponent in a similarly protracted five-game match earlier this year.

Singh's path to the final comes after the mixed doubles pairing of Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar ended their campaign with a bronze medal. The Indian duo fell short in their semifinal clash against Hong Kong's Tang Ming Hong and Lee Ka Yi, losing 11-10, 2-11, 11-10 in a closely contested three-game match.

At 18, Singh has emerged as a leading force in Indian squash, with her performance at the Asian Games underlining her potential on the continental stage. Her advancement to the final represents a significant milestone for the young athlete and adds to India's medal prospects in the sport at the Games.