Ng Eain Yow retains Asian Games squash crown, books LA28 Olympic ticket

Ng Eain Yow has retained his Asian Games men's singles squash title. He also became the first squash player in the world to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where squash makes its Olympic debut.

The top seed beat India's second seed Abhay Singh 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 in about 40 minutes at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena on Sunday, 27 September. It was Malaysia's fifth gold medal of the Games.

A straight-games final

The first game was the closest, and Eain Yow took it 11-9. He then won the next two 11-5 and 11-5. Bernama noted that Eain Yow had won all four of their previous meetings. The last of those was at the 2024 Malaysia Squash Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

The route to the final was just as convincing. In Saturday's semi-final, Eain Yow beat Pakistan's Noor Zaman 11-7, 11-2, 11-4.

An Olympic first

Aichi-Nagoya is the first continental Games to give an Olympic qualification place in squash. The Star reported that the win puts Eain Yow's name into the 16-player draw for Los Angeles.

"This isn't just for myself. It is for all the efforts my seniors who have put in over the years. They paved the way for us to reach this level," the 28-year-old told reporters, according to Bernama.

He said he wanted to repay the players he looked up to as a young boy. He also made it clear that qualifying is not where his ambitions stop.

"My main objective is to become the world's best player," he said. "Of course, winning this tournament and clinching the (Olympic) ticket now is a good thing, but I also believe that within the next two years, I will be ready to become the best player in the world."

A gold for his mother

Eain Yow dedicated the gold to his mother, Low Soo Goon. Bernama reported that she has been fighting leukaemia for about two years.

"I feel that this victory is very meaningful to me. My mother has been battling leukaemia for about two years and I want to dedicate this victory to her," he said.

Praise from home

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim congratulated the Kuala Lumpur-born player on Facebook. Malay Mail reported his post: "Four years ago in Hangzhou, the gold went to Eain Yow. Today, he has repeated that same success. A proud achievement that once again brings glory to Malaysia. Well done, Eain Yow!"

A little later, S. Sivasangari won the women's title, which gave Malaysia a squash singles double. Her gold was the sixth for Malaysia and completed the contingent's six-gold target.

What it means

Winning back-to-back Asian Games titles puts Eain Yow among Malaysia's top performers in Nagoya. He now has close to two years to prepare for Los Angeles without the pressure of chasing a qualifying place.

Key takeaways

• Eain Yow beat Abhay Singh 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 to retain the title he first won at Hangzhou 2022.
• He is the first squash player to qualify for the LA28 Olympics.
• His semi-final win over Pakistan's Noor Zaman was 11-7, 11-2, 11-4.
• He dedicated the gold to his mother and named becoming world No. 1 as his next goal.

FAQ

Who did Ng Eain Yow beat in the Asian Games final? India's Abhay Singh, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5, at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena on 27 September 2026.

Has Eain Yow qualified for the Olympics? Yes. The Asian Games singles winners get a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where squash makes its debut.

Which gold medal was this for Malaysia? It was Malaysia's fifth gold at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

Sources: Bernama, The Star, Malay Mail