Ameeshenraj-Rachel Settle for Mixed Doubles Squash Bronze After Semi-Final Loss
C. Ameeshenraj and Rachel Arnold took home bronze after losing their Asian Games mixed doubles squash semi-final to Hong Kong.
Malaysia added a squash medal to its Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games tally on Saturday, 26 September, as C. Ameeshenraj and Rachel Arnold claimed bronze in the mixed doubles event.
The pair lost their semi-final 2-0 to Hong Kong's Lai Cheuk Nam and Tse Yee Lam, but as there is no bronze medal play-off in Asian Games squash, both beaten semi-finalists receive bronze. Malaysia share the podium spot with India's Velavan Senthilkumar and Joshna Chinappa, who also lost their semi-final.
A frustrating semi-final
The semi-final was a tight contest that the New Straits Times described as heated, with the Hong Kong pair ultimately winning in straight games.
Both Malaysians were candid about their disappointment afterwards.
Rachel admitted the pair had fallen short of their standards. "We did not play at our best today... we tried to fight back, but our tactics did not work out," she said, as reported by theSun.
Ameeshenraj acknowledged the frustration with some of the refereeing calls in such a tight contest, but refused to use it as an excuse. "It was disappointing when the points were so close, but we cannot always blame the umpire. We should have controlled our emotions better," he said.
Road to the medal
The Malaysian pair secured their medal with a quarter-final win on Friday, 25 September, beating South Korea's Oh Seojin and Heo Mingyeong 11-8, 11-9.
It was a mixed day for Malaysia in that round, however. The country's other mixed doubles pair, Mohammad Syafiq Mohd Kamal and Aifa Azman, were eliminated after a 7-11, 5-11 defeat to Hong Kong's Lee Ka Yi and Tang Ming Hong.
Ameeshenraj-Rachel's results:
- Quarter-final: beat Oh Seojin-Heo Mingyeong (South Korea) 11-8, 11-9
- Semi-final: lost to Lai Cheuk Nam-Tse Yee Lam (Hong Kong) 0-2
- Final placing: Bronze medal
Focus shifts to the singles
With the mixed doubles campaign over, Malaysia's remaining squash medal hopes rest on the two defending singles champions, S. Sivasangari and Ng Eain Yow, who both reached the semi-finals of their respective events.
Sivasangari was drawn against Hong Kong's Chan Sin Yuk, while top seed Eain Yow faces Pakistan's Noor Zaman. The singles winners at these Games also earn a place at the LA28 Olympics, according to World Squash.
For Ameeshenraj and Rachel, the bronze is a reward for a solid campaign, even if the manner of the semi-final defeat will sting. Their honest assessment of the match suggests a pair keen to learn from the experience rather than dwell on it.
Key takeaways
- Ameeshenraj and Rachel Arnold won bronze in mixed doubles squash.
- They lost 2-0 to Hong Kong's Lai Cheuk Nam-Tse Yee Lam in the semi-final.
- Both players spoke openly about tactics and emotions after the loss.
- Syafiq Kamal-Aifa Azman went out in the quarter-finals.
- Malaysia's squash focus now turns to singles hopes Sivasangari and Eain Yow.
FAQ
Why did Ameeshenraj and Rachel get bronze after losing the semi-final? Asian Games squash does not hold a third-place play-off, so both losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals.
Who beat the Malaysian pair? Hong Kong's Lai Cheuk Nam and Tse Yee Lam won the semi-final 2-0.
Who shared the bronze with Malaysia? India's Velavan Senthilkumar and Joshna Chinappa, the other losing semi-finalists.
Sources: theSun, Malay Mail, Bernama, World Squash