(September 8, 2023) It was the sound of the ball hitting the wall that made Anahat Singh fall in love with squash. As a youngster, she accompanied her elder sister Amira, who was one of the country’s top-rated under-19 players, for her squash matches. At the age of eight, her passion for squash grew so much that like her sister, she picked up the squash racquet. At the age of 14, she became the youngest athlete to represent India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and this August, she clinched a gold in the U-17 category of the Asian Junior Squash Individual Championships.
Anahat Singh
But squash wasn’t her first love. At six years of age, she first saw PV Sindhu play at the India Open in Delhi, and soon became fascinated with the sport. So much so that she started to pursue squash and even won a handful of youth-level tournaments in Delhi. With supportive parents, who themselves played hockey in their youth, Anahat and Amira were always encouraged to follow their passion. But soon she bartered her badminton racquet for a squash racquet. “Anahat loved badminton but as parents, we used to travel with Amira for tournaments and Anahat did not want to be left alone in the house. That played a big part in her switching to squash from badminton,” Anahat’s mother Tani Vadehra told PTI. Her sister soon started coaching Anahat, and later under the guidance of former national-level squash players Amjad Khan and Ashraf Hussein, Anahat was ready to take on the world of squash.
In no time, Anahat claimed the title of India’s top-ranked player in the under-11 category. Progressing to the under-13 category, she not only secured the No. 1 position in India but also ascended to the pinnacle in both the Asian and European rankings. In 2019, she rose to prominence by securing the gold medal in the under-11 girls’ category at the British Open squash tournament, marking a historic achievement for India. Later the same year, she clinched a bronze medal at the Asian junior championships.
Throughout 2020, Anahat Singh, a student at the British School in Delhi’s Chanakyapuri, collected silver medals at both the British and Malaysian Junior Open tournaments. However, the global outbreak of COVID-19 disrupted her progress. Anahat’s return to the squash court was triumphant as she claimed the junior (under-15) squash title at the 2021 US Open in Philadelphia, making her the inaugural Indian female champion across any age division at the US Open. The following year, 2022, proved to be even more remarkable. Adding to her impressive collection, Anahat secured titles at the German and Dutch Open tournaments. Additionally, she clinched the under-15 gold medal at the Asian junior squash championships held in Thailand in June. Currently training under French coach Stephane Galifi, 15-year-old Anahat won the gold medal in the U-17 category of the Asian Junior Squash Individual Championships.
✨ Let your day end on a wonderful note with this amazing update folks ✨
➡️ 15 yrs young Anahat Singh is U-17 Asian Squash Champion.
➡️ Anahat becomes 1st ever Indian female Squash player to win this title (U17 category).
➡️Last year, Anahat had won U-15 Asian title. pic.twitter.com/q5s4HzluVD— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) August 20, 2023
Anahat Singh’s journey in the world of squash has been nothing short of extraordinary. With her unwavering determination, remarkable skills, and a trail of victories that have shattered records and crossed borders, she has truly left an indelible mark on the sport. From her historic wins on prestigious stages to her constant pursuit of excellence, Anahat has become a source of inspiration for aspiring athletes and a pride for her nation. As she continues to redefine the limits of achievement in squash, there is no doubt that her legacy will continue to shine brightly and motivate generations to come.
- Follow Anahat Singh on X
