Teen Anahat Singh Wins 2nd India Squash Title in a Row

Watching Anahat Singh play squash is like watching an artist at work, carving impossibly precise angles that leave opponents scrambling and spectators mesmerized.

The 18-year-old just claimed her second straight JSW Indian Open title at Mumbai's Cricket Club of India, defeating Egyptian world number 29 Hana Moataz in four games. The final score of 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6 doesn't quite capture the artistry Singh displayed on court.

Singh's signature weapon is the boast, a devilishly difficult shot that ricochets off the sidewall before hitting the front wall and trickling down. She unleashed it repeatedly in the first two games, wrapping up each in just six minutes and leaving Moataz searching for answers.

When the Egyptian fought back to claim the third game, Singh regrouped with her coach between games. "I was excited that I was winning," she admitted afterward, explaining how she refocused to dominate the fourth game and close out the match.

Her opponent battled through illness all week just to reach the final, making Singh's victory even more impressive against a determined challenger.

Why This Inspires

Singh's journey represents something bigger than one teenager's trophy case. No Indian woman has ever won the World Junior Squash Championship, but Singh gets her final chance this July before aging out of junior competition.

Even more exciting is what lies ahead. Saurav Ghosal, India's squash legend who now mentors Singh, believes she has the skill set to reach the world's top 10 by the end of next season. She already possesses the variations and court coverage that trouble elite players.

The timing couldn't be better. The Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan offer Olympic qualification through the gold medal, with world number 6 and 7 players standing in the way. Singh is aiming high.

On the men's side, India's Abhay Singh captured his first India Open title, defeating compatriot Veer Chotrani 11-9, 11-8, 11-4. The 27-year-old has climbed back to his career-high ranking of 26 and now has his sights set on defending India's Asian Games gold and qualifying for the LA Olympics.

With four Indian men now ranked in the world's top 50 and Singh rising on the women's side, Indian squash is experiencing a golden moment. These aren't just individual achievements but a rising tide lifting the entire sport in a cricket-obsessed nation.

Singh still has work to do, especially on taking the ball higher to give herself more margin for error against the physically imposing players at the top. But her silent aggression and ability to slide around bigger opponents while picking up impossible defensive shots suggest she's ready for the challenge.

India is about to get very familiar with watching that boast find the corner.