With third title, Anahat Singh climbing step by step at British Open squash

Anahat Singh, the Delhi-based girl, clinched the British Open junior title (across various age groups) for the third time in her career earlier this month after a closely fought win in what was her fifth final appearance at the prestigious tournament.

Anahat defeated Egypt’s Malika Elkaraksy 3-2 (4-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 11-3) in the final held in Birmingham.

Anahat, who trains at the Capital’s Siri Fort Sports Complex under local coaches and in Mumbai under former top 40 player Stephane Galifi, had won her first title at the British Open in 2019 when she clinched the under-11 championship.

In 2020, she won silver medal in the under-13 category. 

She couldn’t go one better in the under-13 category next year as Covid forced the tournament to go off calendar for the next two years.

“She couldn’t compete in [her second year of] the under-13 category in 2021 and in the first year of her under-15 category in 2022 due to Covid,” said father Gursharan Singh.

But when the British Open returned in 2023, Anahat competed in the under-15 category and won the title.

“The next year she fought in the under-17 category and reached the final before losing it. This year she went one better and clinched the title,” added father Gursharan, who has played hockey at the national level and is a lawyer by profession.

Anahat has been part of the Indian team and participated in the Commonwealth Games. She returned with two bronze medals from the 2022 Asian Games. Prior to the British Open she had trained under former World No. 1 Gregory Gaultier in the Czech Republic.

Anahat’s elder sister Amira Singh also plays for Indian junior team and is part of the squash team of Harvard University, where she is pursuing Finance and Business at undergraduate level.

“Anahat is fortunate because she is getting training from good quarters. She is being mentored by Saurav Ghosal,” added Gursharan.

The young prodigy, who has studied at the British School in  Chanakyapuri, will compete at the under-19 level in British Open next year.

Tags : Anahat Singh, British Open squash, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Saurav Ghosal, Birmingham