What makes Anahat Singh the most promising squash player in the country? | Sport-others News

After the third game of the prestigious British Junior Open U17 final, India’s Anahat Singh – the top seed – was in trouble. She had dropped two games and trailed against Egyptian prodigy Malika Elkaraksy. As she came out of the court in Birmingham before the fourth game started, her mentor and Indian squash legend Saurav Ghosal was upset, not because she was losing the final but because he was certain Anahat wasn’t playing to the level she was capable of.“Initially, just nothing was working out,” Anahat told The Indian Express. “When I came out of the court after the third game when I was 1-2 down, he was quite angry with me. That was one reason I started playing better. It motivated me because I didn’t want him to get more upset (smiles). He knew I wasn’t playing my best and was telling me to focus on my basics. Even if I played at 50% of my capability, I’d make sure I’d win. It was just one last push. I’m glad I got through it.”
Eventually, the 16-year-old defeated 14-year-old Malika in the final, 4-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 11-3, winning what is considered one of the pinnacle age-group events on the tour, apart from the World Junior Championships. Now Anahat has won a title in three categories: U11 in 2019, U15 in 2023, and U17 in 2025.
Anahat Singh in action. Credit: britishjunioropen.com
“I know what she’s capable of. Different circumstances require different approaches,” Ghosal told this daily. “In the final, I just felt her intensity wasn’t where it needed to be, affecting her performance. Sometimes, a wake-up call is needed to remind her to trust her abilities and produce what she can. The girl she played, a 14-year-old Egyptian, is a talented player who has a great future. So I think Anahat did well to turn it around.”
Anahat saw that as a sign of the expectations on her. “If my coach isn’t happy that I won a tournament, then obviously there’s a lot more to do,” she said, adding with a smile that Ghosal was still upset after the final. “I’ve only won one tournament this year; there’s much more to achieve. He is right, I didn’t play my best this week, and I wasn’t happy with it either. So, he has the right to be angry!”
‘Natural ability’
Identified PSA as one of the five players to watch out for in 2025, Anahat’s ceiling is high. On the PSA circuit last year, Anahat picked up nine titles, and that has pushed her up close to the top 80. While her eyes are on winning medals at the Asian Games already, in the short term she hopes to enter the top 50, maybe even top 30 the end of the year. Of course, there is LA 2028 as well, where squash has been added to the roster. But Anahat doesn’t want to think too much about it right now.
“She has a lot of natural ability, retrieves a lot of balls, and is physically good. Mentally, she’s strong too. She hates to lose and is very competitive, which is essential,” Ghosal said. But the team around her – Ghosal and her coaches Grégory Gaultier and Stephane Galifi – know there are areas to work on.
“Off the court, she could be more professional in preparation. That’s where Gregory (former world No 1) and I help. She is generally a laid-back person. I just think on the squash court she needs to be a little bit more intense so that she can play the game that is required at the top level.” Ghosal levels of intensity? “Well, I was good. But Gregory is actually a great example, every time he stepped on court you could literally feel his intensity.” The Indian ace added that all this will take time, but she has the right attitude to learn.
There is no doubting the youngster’s talent and drive. “The British juniors is one of the most prestigious events there is,” Indian star Joshna Chinappa, a two-time title winner there, told this daily. “The best players play in this event year after year and it’s a significant achievement from Anahat to have won three titles so far. She has a lot of great strokes and also plays quite a mature game for someone so young. She has a long way to go but is on the right track.”
Ghosal, however, is keen to take age out of the equation. “We are keeping her benchmarks high and putting the good kind of pressure on her not to worry about how old or young she is, but to focus on raising her level. There is one girl in particular, Egypt’s Amina Orfi, who is only 17 and already in the world’s top 10. So, there’s an example in front of her.”
Indeed, Egypt poses the stiffest challenge in squash. Ten Egyptians are in the current women’s world’s top 20. Anahat herself has had her share of disappointments at the World Junior Championships quarterfinals. A medal, thus, has been elusive in the premier tournament. It is the goal that she has set for 2025. For Ghosal, it comes down to preparing with the mindset of beating them. “You can’t do that playing like them, you have to tactically know what to do. Anahat has the ability, but she has to put the work in,” he said.
Anahat’s response to being asked what she needs to work on to improve her game was simple: “Everything.” Even before the question about her dream of a World junior medal was completed, she interjected. “I need to turn those quarterfinal finishes into a win. This time I am going into the tournament aiming to win. Not focusing on just winning a medal anymore, it doesn’t seem to be working out if I am thinking like that! If I am supposed to win it, I am supposed to win it now.” Ghosal approved. “I am glad she is thinking that way.”

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