'Anahat Singh's rise fuels Olympic medal hope'

BENGALURU : At just 18, Anahat Singh boasts a resume many would envy. The Indian squash prodigy has two Asian Games bronze medals (2023), a World Cup gold (2025) and 16 PSA Tour titles to her name.But her biggest breakthrough came last month when she clinched a historic PSA Bronze-level title, defeating then World No. 10 Georgina Kennedy in Washington. She followed it up with another strong showing, winning the Indian Open last week. Having broken into the top 100 in Oct 2024, Anahat has surged to World No. 20 — a remarkable climb in a rankings dominated by the Egyptians. Her steady rise augurs well for Indian squash, which currently has four men and three women in the top 100, especially with the sport set to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Though the Olympics are still over two years away, Anahat appears firmly on track. A gold medal at the upcoming Asian Games (Sept-Oct in Japan) could secure her early qualification, while world rankings offer another pathway.Indian squash legend Joshna Chinappa believes Anahat is already shaping into a serious medal contender. “She’s doing extremely well and winning top-level tournaments. I see her as a medal prospect in 2028.

She has a great team around her and a very good head on her shoulders. There’s a lot more to come from her,” Joshna, a Padma Shri, said on the sidelines of an event on Tuesday. The inclusion of squash in the Olympics has also given the sport a significant boost in India.

Increased awareness, corporate backing and government support are beginning to make a tangible difference. For Joshna, now 39 and at the twilight of her career, the focus remains on one last push. After a quarterfinal finish at the Indian Open, she has set her sights on the Asian Games. “I’m at the later stage of my career, but the Asian Games is definitely on my mind. I’m trying to manage my schedule so I can stay fit and be at my best for the Games,” she added.