Pakistani squash player Asim Khan has advanced to the semi-finals at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, continuing a strong run at the event he’s medalled at twice before. The 29-year-old from Lahore looks to be building toward a third.
The 2026 Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya from September 19 to October 4, with squash competitions running at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena. Pakistan has entered a full squad across the men’s and women’s draws, and Khan’s progress into the last four adds to the country’s medal hopes in the sport.
Background: A Familiar Stage for Khan
This isn’t new territory for Khan. He was part of Pakistan’s squash team that won bronze at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, then followed that up with a silver medal as part of the team event at the 2022 Hangzhou Games. Both results came against tough continental competition, particularly from India and Hong Kong, two of Asia’s strongest squash nations.
Currently ranked in the world’s top 75, Khan has had a productive stretch on the professional tour lately too. Earlier in 2026, he picked up his 12th PSA title at the Washington Open, then added a 13th by winning the Asian World Championship Qualifying Event, a result that also booked his place at the PSA World Championships in Giza, Egypt.
What’s at Stake in Nagoya
Squash carries extra weight at these particular Asian Games because the men’s and women’s singles champions in Nagoya qualify straight through to LA 2028, where the sport makes its Olympic debut. Every player in the draw knows it, Khan included — a good run here isn’t just about an Asiad medal anymore.
Pakistan has historically treated squash as one of its more reliable medal sports at multi-nation events, given the country’s long history producing world-class players. A semi-final finish keeps that tradition alive and puts Khan within reach of another Asian Games podium finish.
Impact for Pakistan Squash
A strong showing from Khan matters beyond his own result. Pakistan’s broader sporting presence at the Asian Games has been thin in recent editions, and a squash medal tends to be one of the more dependable bright spots when it comes. It also feeds into the sport’s visibility back home, where squash academies and federations rely on high-profile results to attract funding and new players.
The semi-final stage also sets up the possibility of Khan facing regional rivals from India, Hong Kong, or Malaysia, all of whom fielded competitive squads for this year’s Games. Any of those match-ups would carry extra significance given the Olympic qualification stakes attached to the tournament.
What Comes Next
Khan’s semi-final match is the next major test of this campaign, with a place in the gold medal round on the line. Beyond Nagoya, his qualification for the PSA World Championships in Giza this coming spring means his 2026 season isn’t slowing down regardless of how the Asian Games ends. For now, attention stays on Nagoya, where Pakistan will be hoping Khan can add another Asian Games medal to a career that already includes two.
FAQs
How old is Asim Khan?
He was born October 29, 1996, in Lahore, which makes him 29 heading into this Asian Games. He’s been on the pro circuit for close to a decade at this point, and honestly, 2026 looks like one of his sharper years two PSA titles already, on top of whatever comes out of Nagoya.
What is Asim Khan known for in squash?
Mostly for being a steady presence on Pakistan’s national team he helped bring home bronze at the 2018 Asian Games and silver in 2022. Individually he’s picked up 13 PSA titles over his career and once cracked the world’s top 55. Within Pakistani squash, which has produced its share of legends over the years, he’s considered one of the more reliably consistent players on the current roster.
Where does Asim Khan rank on the world squash tour?
He’s inside the top 75 as of early 2026, with a career-best of world No. 53 back in October 2022. Tour rankings move around a lot given how packed the calendar is, but he’s held a top-100 spot for years now, which is a big part of why he keeps getting picked for Pakistan’s squad at events like this one.
