Meet Anahat Singh, 17 year old squash player has been scripting history, and she is keenly looking to replicate the same performance which she has been doing in last few events.
She is keenly looking to bag medals in Olympics with the unmatched consistency, grit and determination she can certainly one in future.
Squash of late have been picking up rapidly where credit should be given to all stakeholders who have worked hard behind the scenes to make this entity extremely popular also Squash Federation of India deserve credit for these changes too.
If we decode about Anahat Singh technicality as player it all starts with graceful and unrelenting movements where she move across the stance and score shots.
She is a perfect combination of Youthful and vintage poise.
She is looking all set to make an impact in 2025 World Squash Championship to be held in Chicago and the moment she would etch her feet in World Squad Championship 2025, she just don’t carry her racquet you carry the hopes of billion people also she is the lone women representative in that prestigious tournament.
She hails from Delhi, sporting culture background where her Father Gursharan Singh, lawyer and mother Tani Vadhera an interior designer by profession but both parents played hockey at their youth level.
Her elder sister Amira, was once Top ranked U-19 squash player before she decided to enroll for Harvard University for her bachelors degree.
However her elder sister continues to play for Harvard Women’s National Team.
Anahat early inclination was toward Badminton, where she was inspired by PV Sindhu based on strategy, physicality and raw speed which attracted her towards Badminton as sport.
“I started playing Badminton when I was six years old. When I was eight I started going to Delhi Gymkhana Club and started playing Squash with my elder sister. Eventually I started doing a lot better in squash and enjoyed it a lot more as well” Anahat told while talking to Times of India.
The moment started taking her career serious, where she begun her prize money journey at the age of 9 years old, where she won national title.
At the age of 11 years old she started dominating the U-13 circuit, rising at Number 1 spot not just in India but extended rankings beyond Europe and Asia.
Her crowning moment came for Anahat, she captured the British Junior Open tournament( a tournament gave her early spotlight) and she was nicknamed as “Wimbledon of Junior Squash” in U-11 category where she stunned some higher ranked players with her amazing moves.
In Couple of years time, she brilliantly transitioned from young prodigy to powerhouse.
If you look at India’s point of view, Anhat Singh representing India is a big success for us which clearly indicates that torch is being passed to new generation.
She is excited to be part of World Squash Championshp to be held in Chicago, and It would be great competing against the best players in the world where I stand a good chance to hone my skills and comeback stronger in stipulated time period.
At present she is currently ranked at World number 60 and her consistent performance in no time would mean that she can substantially improve her rankings if she replicate the same performance which she exhibited in last 10-12 months.
as she said “I don’t think too much about rankings, as the moment I step onto the court, Its me,balls and walls and I just wanted to make it the most and win games for India”
Irrespective of her performance in World Squash Championship she still would be looking to win medal in Los Angles Olympics as the sport have been included in the Upcoming Marquee event.
“Squash has been included in Los Angeles Olympics our job as unit would be to lift medal for India in the Upcoming Sporting event”.
She has won two bronze medals already in 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games in doubles and mixes doubles category, currently people working with her behind the scenes have been upto the mark.
She currently has full team around her, consist of Professionals like Gregory Gaultier (France) and Stephane Galifi (Italy) as full time coaches.
Her mentor is none other than Saurav Ghosal(Indian squash stalwart) known for winning Common Weakth Games and Asian Games for India.
She can learn a lot from the phenomenal Sourav Ghosal which include- grit, determination, fitness, move and most importantly longetivity in the game.
More Technicality about her Game:
Anahat Singh, a rising star in Indian squash, is known for her impressive technical proficiency and composure on the court, especially for her age. Her game combines classical technique with modern aggression, making her stand out in junior and senior circuits alike. One of the key technical aspects of Anahat’s game is her exceptional footwork. Her ability to reach the ball early and maintain balance while executing shots allows her to dominate rallies. She glides across the court, displaying economy of movement and agility, which ensures she is often in an ideal position to strike.
Anahat’s racket control is another defining feature. She plays with a deft touch, especially at the front of the court, where she uses a variety of drops and flicks to keep opponents guessing. Her backhand, traditionally a weaker side for many young players, is notably strong and compact. She maintains a short swing and good follow-through, allowing her to drive length and control pace effectively even under pressure. This strength gives her tactical flexibility, letting her switch the play from one side of the court to another seamlessly.
Her shot selection is also mature beyond her years. Anahat doesn’t just hit to retrieve; she constructs rallies with intent. Whether it’s holding her shot a moment longer to wrong-foot her opponent or varying the pace to break rhythm, she demonstrates a strong understanding of the tactical demands of high-level squash. Her serve, often underestimated in junior squash, is accurate and well-placed, setting up early opportunities to take control in the rally.
Moreover, Anahat exhibits a strong mental game, which complements her technical skills. She remains calm under pressure, adapts quickly during matches, and is not afraid to attack when the opportunity presents itself. This mental resilience is crucial in tight matches, where many young players falter.
Her training background, often involving international exposure and high-level coaching, is evident in the polish of her technique and court awareness. She plays a modern game rooted in strong fundamentals—balancing aggression with precision, and flair with consistency. As she continues to evolve, technical refinement and increased physical strength will only add to her dominance. For now, Anahat Singh’s game is a compelling mix of technical excellence, tactical intelligence, and fearless play.
With the way she has transformed her game, it all indicate her future looks bright also more grassroot programs should be developed in such a way, that more talented players like Anhat could come up the ranks and do wonders for India.
Squash again is very expensive sport, so someone who is actually talent should receive support from stakeholders and federation where they are taken care in better way.
Squash in India, is growing big time but those talent scouting should be done on extreme basis so that best talent can come up the ranks.
