Anahat Singh
A squash player from Delhi who became the youngest Asian woman in the world top 20 and India's first world junior squash champion.
Anahat Singh is a squash player from Delhi and, while still a teenager, India’s highest-ranked woman in the sport. Her rise into the world top 20 was highlighted in episode 132 of Mann Ki Baat in March 2026 [1].
Into the top 20
In February 2026, aged 17, Singh won the Squash on Fire Open in Washington, her first title at the PSA Tour’s Bronze level after 14 Challenger titles [2]. She beat three higher-ranked players on the way, including England’s Georgina Kennedy, the top seed and world No. 10, in straight games in the final [2].
The win lifted her 12 places to a career-high world ranking of 19, making her India’s top-ranked squash player of either sex [3]. Mann Ki Baat noted that this made her the youngest Asian woman to reach the PSA top 20 [1][2].
World junior champion
In July 2026 Singh, the top seed, won the girls’ title at the World Junior Squash Championships in Canada, beating Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in the final [4]. She was the first Indian to win the title and the first player from outside Egypt to take it since 2010 [4].
Asian Games silver
At the 2026 Asian Games in Japan she came back from two games down to beat world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe of Japan in the semi-final, saving match points on the way [5][6]. She lost the final to Malaysia’s defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam and took silver, saying afterwards that she had much to improve but was happy with the medal [5].
Sources
- [1] PM's address in the 132nd Episode of Mann Ki Baat — Prime Minister's Office (pmindia.gov.in). Accessed 12 October 2026.
- [2] Anahat Singh wins maiden PSA Bronze title at Squash on Fire Open — The Bridge. Accessed 12 October 2026.
- [3] Squash: Anahat Singh climbs to top 20 world rankings — The Bridge. Accessed 12 October 2026.
- [4] History in Canada: Anahat Singh Crowned 2026 World Junior Squash Champion — Revsportz. Accessed 12 October 2026.
- [5] Asian Games: 'Lot to improve, could've played better but happy with silver,' says Anahat Singh — The Morung Express (IANS). Accessed 12 October 2026.
- [6] Anahat Singh, Abhay Singh enter squash singles finals at Asian Games — Akashvani (All India Radio) News. Accessed 12 October 2026.
Last updated . First draft prepared with AI assistance; reviewed and fact-checked by a person before publishing. Report a correction
