Junior British Open Champ Anahat Singh hopes to be India’s squash face in LA ’28

CHENNAI: For Anahat Singh, the glitter of her third British Junior Open crown is already in the rear-view mirror. Her gaze is fixed far ahead – on the glass courts of Los Angeles 2028, where squash will make its long-awaited Olympic debut. At just 16, she’s well on track to become the face of India’s squash hopes at the Summer Games.
During an interaction with arranged by JSW Sports, the Delhi teen said: “I would love to be the face of India’s Olympic squash dreams. I think everyone is training with that in mind. It’s every athlete’s dream to be at the Olympics and win a medal for their country. The competition is going to be very tough, but if I’m able to train properly, I should be on the right track.”
Anahat feels squash’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics could be the launchpad not only for her career but also for the sport in India. “There was a time when people didn’t even know squash existed. I feel that once we start playing in the Olympics, the situation will change completely,” said Anahat, who began with a badminton racket before switching to squash.
While she has ambitious goals, the path ahead is far from straightforward. Training in Delhi has come with its own hurdles, particularly the challenge of finding the right coaches and training partners to elevate her game. “It’s been tough to find the right people to train with because in Delhi you don’t really get that many people to practise with. But now, I think finally I’m able to find the right people and build that base properly. And my game has definitely improved.”
But who are these “right people”? It’s the veterans of the sport – Joshna Chinappa, Saurav Ghosal, and Dipika Pallikal. “I grew up watching them on TV, and now I’m traveling with them, seeing how they approach the game, both on and off the court. It’s been such an eye-opener, and I’ve learned so much just from their presence,” said Anahat, who was mentored by Saurav at the recent British Junior Open.
Alongside the aces, youngster Abhay Singh has also been a key figure for Anahat, especially after their bronze-medal win in the mixed doubles event at the Hangzhou Asian Games two years ago. “I mean getting that medal is something that I would never ever forget. I feel the men’s and the women’s games are very different, but just spending time with Abhay and learning what he does to improve have been helpful,” said Anahat.

After falling short last year in the British Junior Open, Anahat was determined to make this one count. Her route to victory wasn’t smooth, Anahat had to face three strong Egyptian players. In the final, she battled back from two games down to defeat Egypt's Malika Elkaraksy 3-2.
“I lost last year so I was a bit stressed coming into the tournament. But I knew that I had a better chance of winning this time. I didn’t know at any point, like completely, that I was going to win or not, but I am glad I was able to pull through.”
Anahat, who won nine PSA Challenger titles last year, remains focused on the future. “I have so much left to achieve. I’m not dwelling on this win because there are more tournaments ahead. I’m only 16, and there’s still a lot for me to work on. Nothing in my game is perfect yet. I think right now my main focus is just to work on everything and make sure I can get to a stage where I’m able to play good games with some of the senior players and give them a good fight as well.”