"I loved the noise of the ball hitting the wall."
Anahat Singh may only be in her teens, but she has already become the face of Indian squash’s next generation.
Her name first caught global attention at the 2023 Asian Games, where she clinched two bronze medals in women’s team and mixed doubles.
At just 15 years, six months, and 16 days, she briefly held the record as India’s youngest Asian Games medallist.
For a player this young, the weight of expectation could be daunting. Yet, Anahat’s relaxed and fearless approach to competition has made her a joy to watch.
She was the youngest member of India’s 2022 Commonwealth Games squad, where she claimed a first-round victory on debut.
Those flashes of early brilliance have since blossomed into a string of junior, national, and international titles.
Her journey reflects a deep sporting culture, tireless family support, and an ambition to put Indian squash on the world map.
We explore her beginnings, her breakthrough on the global stage, her historic medal haul, and the future that awaits one of India’s brightest sports stars.
A Sporting Childhood
Born on March 13, 2008, in Delhi, Anahat grew up in a household that valued sports.
Her father, Gursharan Singh, is a lawyer, and her mother, Tani Vadehra Singh, is an interior designer. Both had played hockey in their youth, giving the Singh home an athletic rhythm.
Anahat’s first sporting love was not squash but badminton. She became inspired after watching PV Sindhu at the India Open at age six.
Her mother recalled: “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.”
Her sister, Amira Singh, was already a top Indian junior squash player and now represents Harvard University.
Anahat’s curiosity led her to the squash courts, where she discovered her own reason to stay.
She said: “I was drawn to it because I loved the noise of the ball hitting the wall.”
Coached by Amira and former national players Amjad Khan and Ashraf Hussein, Anahat rose swiftly.
By age 11, she was India’s top player in her age group. Soon, she dominated the Under-13 category across India, Asia, and even Europe, marking the arrival of a rare talent.
International Breakthrough
Anahat Singh’s international breakthrough came in 2019, when she won the Under-11 girls’ gold at the prestigious British Junior Open, a first for India.
That same year, she added a bronze at the Asian Junior Championships.
Her rise paused briefly during the Covid-19 pandemic, but she returned in style by winning the 2021 US Junior Open Under-15 title in Philadelphia, making her the first Indian girl to win a US Open title in any age group.
The years that followed were a cascade of victories.
In 2022, she collected the German and Dutch Open titles and secured Under-15 gold at the Asian Junior Championships in Thailand.
That summer, she made her senior debut at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where she won her opening match and impressed the national selectors with her composure.
In 2023, her dominance extended to the Under-17 circuit.
She won the British Junior Open and the Asian Junior Championships before stepping into the senior spotlight at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Partnering with Abhay Singh in mixed doubles and contributing to the women’s team, she collected two bronze medals.
Abhay said: “Getting to do this at 15, it’s just hats off to her. She’s such a fighter.”
A Historic Medal Haul
The past three years have cemented Anahat Singh’s status as a prodigy with staying power.
Her achievements include national senior titles, a Scottish Junior Open Under-19 win, and a record-breaking nine PSA Challenger titles in 2024.
She began 2025 by winning the British Junior Open Under-17 title and helping India to a bronze at the Asian Junior Team Championships.
Her senior career took off when she broke into the world’s top 70, reaching No. 68 in the PSA rankings and becoming India’s top female player.
At the 2025 World Squash Championships in Chicago, she made an immediate impact, upsetting the USA’s world No. 28 Marina Stefanoni before bowing out to Egypt’s Fayrouz Aboelkheir.
Anahat’s medal tally continued to grow.
She won the women’s and mixed titles at the 2025 Asian Doubles Championships and clinched a bronze at the World Junior Championships, ending India’s 15-year medal drought at the event.
Her performances earned her the PSA Challenger Female Player of the Season award and the PSA Young Female Player of the Season, which she shared with Egypt’s Amina Orfi.
What makes Anahat’s story extraordinary is not just her age but her mindset.
Teammate Abhay Singh observed: “It’s so refreshing having a 15-year-old around you because she makes everything very fun and it’s all bubbly and nice.
“She looks at life in a very relaxed, fun way, so you can’t be very serious around her.”
With a mix of elegance and aggression often likened to Pakistani legend Jansher Khan, Anahat Singh is poised to lead Indian squash into a new era.
Her journey from a badminton-loving child to India’s top female squash player offers a glimpse of the sport’s future.
As she continues to collect titles and break records, her impact extends beyond personal accolades.
She embodies the ambition of a new generation of Indian athletes: bold, fearless, and ready to take on the world.
Loading ...