Chotrani Survives Five-Game Epic to Reach 2026 Asian Games Quarters

The second day of the 2026 Asian Games delivered comeback victories and incredible five-game thrillers during an action-packed in Nagoya, Japan.

The 20th Asian Games sees three squash competitions taking place at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena, with mixed doubles and singles being contested from 23-27 September, followed by the team event taking place from 28 September-2 October.

The event brings together the very best Asian squash stars, who will not only be competing for national honours but also for a place in history as squash's first-ever Olympians, with the winners of the singles competitions earning a place in the main draw at squash's Olympic debut at LA28.

Among the excitement of the day's matches, India's Veer Chotrani secured his place in the 2026 Asian Games quarter-finals after a thrilling five-game battle against Malaysia's Sanjay Jeeva.

An end-to-end battle from the get-go, Chotrani took a 2/1 lead but the match reached its boiling point in the fourth game, with neither player willing to give the other any room on the scoreboard, sharing 32 points before Jeeva closed out the game, winning 17-15.

Following the intense fourth game, everything was to play for in the final game of the tie. However, despite the threats from the Malaysian, it was Chotrani who was able to persevere and claim the last game 11-6.

"I always knew today was going to be a tough match, playing someone like Jeeva in your second is always going to be tough," said Chotrani.

"The squash wasn't the best today, but I'm happy to have got over the line, and It is always good to have a match like this as you can use this experience later on in the tournament and it will give me that belief

"So I'm feeling good right now, and I'm happy that I was able to keep calm and keep my composure in the fifth as he's such a tough opponent."

Elsewhere, in the Men's Singles draw, the top two seeds, Eain Yow Ng of Malaysia and India's Abhay Singh, continued their strong form with straight-game victories over Republic of Korea's Jeongmin Ryu and Sri Lanka's Ravindu Laksiri, respectively.

The win for Singh will see him face off against Japan's 5/8 seed Ryunosuke Tsukue, who advanced into the quarter-finals following Qatar's Abdulla Al-Tamimi's retirement in the second game due to injury.

Meanwhile, Yow Ng will continue his pursuit of back-to-back gold medals against Hong Kong's 5/8 seed Alex Lau, who reached the last eight with an incredible comeback win over Japan's Tomotaka Endo.

Despite going two games down front of a fully supportive Japanese crowd, the 5/8 seed was able to raise his game and claw his way back into the tie.

Winning back-to-back games 11-3, 11-3 to level the match, Lau was able to maintain his pressure on his opponent, closing out the fifth game 11-7 to advance.

Lau's compatriot Henry Leung also progressed after an intense 3/1 victory over Republic of Korea's Jooyoung Na.

Despite the appearance of the scoreline, it was far from a one-sided bout, with Leung pushed to the limit by the 2024 World Squash Junior Championship runner-up, with the 5/8 seed winning 12-10, 14-12, 9-11, 11-9.

Leung will play against Pakistan's No.4 seed Noor Zaman, who also punched his ticket into the next round with a 3/0 win over Kuwait's Ammar Altamimi.

In the Women's Singles draw, No.2 seed Satomi Watanabe started her gold medal campaign with a hard-fought victory over Macau's Gigi Yeung.

In front of a packed crowd, the world No.6 was able to take control of the contest from the very beginning, claiming the opener 11-5.

However, as the match progressed, the 9/16 seed began to grow in confidence and caused a lot of problems for the Japanese No.1, who was forced to battle hard before eventually getting over the line, winning 11-9, 11-8 to advance into the quarter-finals.

Winning in front of a supportive home crowd, Watanabe said: "I am really happy that I have made it through to the next round, but overall I know performance wise it wasn't my best.

"It was my first match in the tournament, so I am still getting rid of the nerves, and playing in front of a home crowd, which is unfamiliar on the PSA Tour, it give you a lot of positive energy but it puts more pressure on you.

"I was a bit tense and nervous today, it wasn't quite flowing for me on court today, but I am happy to have got through today."

Meanwhile, Malaysia's No.1 seed Sivasangari Subramaniam powered into the quarter-finals with victory over Sri Lanka's Chanithma Sinaly.

The world No.6 and defending champion will now go on to face Hong Kong's Tomato Ho in the last eight, who progressed following a victory over Iran's Fereshteh Eghtedari.

Subramaniam's compatriot and No.4 seed Aira Azman also cruised into the last eight with a win against Najmeh Boushehrizadeh of Iran, which will see the Malaysian face off against Hong Kong's Sin Yuk Chan.

Meanwhile, India's No.3 seed and World Squash Junior Champion Anahat Singh advanced into the quarter-finals with a straight-game victory over Singapore's Wai Iynn Au Yeong.

Singh will now face her compatriot Tanvi Khanna, who progressed with a determined 3/1 victory over Singapore's Wai Yhann Au Yeong.

In the Mixed Doubles competition, eight incredible matches enthralled the crowd, with strong performances and remarkable comebacks throughout the morning session.

On Court 7, Pakistan's Muhammad Asim Khan and Mehwish Ali celebrated an incredible comeback victory over Japan's Naoki Hayashi and Erisa Sano Herring.

Upsetting the seedings in front of a packed Japanese crowd, the duo were able to launch an incredible comeback after losing the opener, before saving three match balls to claim the second 11-10.

With momentum in their corner, the team of Khan and Ali were able to seal the victory, and a place in the quarter-finals, winning the third game 11-4.

Meanwhile, the partnership from the Philippines, Jemyca Aribado and David Pelino, upset the seedings with a 2/0 victory over Republic of Korea's Seojin Oh and Mingyeong Heo.

Quarter-finalists in the 2023 Asian Games, the duo were determined to do the same again at this event, as they were able to put on a show at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena, winning back-to-back games 11-7.

With a place secured in the last eight, the Philippines partnership will be seeking revenge, as they will meet India's Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar next after their victory over compatriots Suraj Kumar Chand and Shameena Riaz.

Elsewhere, there was success for both Malaysian Mixed Doubles teams, as No.1 seeds Mohammad Syafiq Mohd Kamal and Aifa Azman powered past Japan's Ren Makino and Risa Sugimoto.

And fellow national teammates Ameeshenraj Chandaran and Rachel Arnold confirmed their place in the next round after downing Haizhen Li and Yuning Zhang of China.