India’s 16-year-old squash prodigy Anahat Singh was the highest seed on the yr’s British Open Juniors within the U17 class. However she needed to navigate a tricky path earlier than clinching her first title in that age-group, tackling three Egyptians, all the time the hardest bunch of squash gamers.
Twenty-two years after Joshna Chinappa made historical past for India claiming the British Juniors U17, Anahat matched her compatriot’s feat on the Birmingham College glass courts.
With squash slated to debut on the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, Anahat’s third British Open title, having picked earlier ones in U11 and U15 classes, is shaping up right into a superb profession trajectory. It was additionally a memorable comeback after dropping final yr’s closing.
“I’m feeling actually comfortable. It’s my third time successful this. I misplaced final yr in three shut video games. I’m actually comfortable I may win this time earlier than I am going into a better class,” she instructed the British Open web site.
Whereas the World Juniors are the last word goal for U19s, it had been vital for the Indian to enter Birmingham as the highest seed and justify her prime billing, amidst an array of gifted Egyptian children.
Within the closing on Monday, she defeated Egypt’s Malika Elkaraksy 3-2 (4-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 11-3). Twice she got here again from trailing positions to show her preventing spirit. The Egyptians are famously dogged opponents, fearless and expert of their shot-making and unfeeling of rankings.
Nonetheless, the 16-year-old Indian wouldn’t have needed a second straight finals loss, after falling brief towards Egypt’s Nadien Elhammamy within the U17 closing final yr. She upped the ante towards Malika within the closing sport to kickstart her 2025 season.
After beginning her marketing campaign with a straight-games victory over unseeded Frenchwoman Sarah Guyot, Anahat had bolted by way of the preliminary rounds towards England’s Fearney Copley and the USA’s Reghan Mclaughlin. She finally sailed by way of a tough quarter-final towards Egyptian Nadia Tamer, successful 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-7), and was a sport down within the semis earlier than recouping towards Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem 3-1 (9/11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6).
It was nearly an emotional return for Anahat to Birmingham the place she first got here into prominence as India’s youngest athlete on the final Commonwealth Video games, her seniors debut. She had received the British Junior Open U11 in 2019, and U15s in 2023, a yr after the CWG.
Nevertheless, the loss final yr had been sobering and he or she entered the ultimate with some nerves, figuring out issues didn’t go her means the final time.
“I don’t suppose I performed my finest squash however by the fifth sport I used to be in a position to perceive precisely what I needed to do. This yr is my benefit yr within the U17 age-group so it was an vital one for me. I like this place and I might be again subsequent yr to attempt to win quantity 4,” she would inform BJO later.
Altering courts
Her transfer from badminton to squash is an attention-grabbing story, instructed by PTI. Her mom Tani Vadehra stated then, “Anahat liked badminton however as dad and mom, we used to journey with (her older sister) Amira for tournaments and Anahat didn’t need to be left alone in the home. That performed a giant half in her switching to squash from badminton.”
The teenager was enthusiastic about less complicated issues. “I used to be drawn to it as a result of I liked the noise of the ball hitting the wall,” she was quoted as saying by olympics.com.
The U17 title, similar to Joshna’s, is a crucial milestone, although the more durable U19 class can be her first large problem, even because the Olympics roll in.
Anahat might be 20 at Los Angeles 2028, and although squash gamers peak a lot later, until you’re Nicole David after all, she remains to be ticking all of the milestone containers, earlier than contending for the World Junior crown.
She has been in good type on the circuit in 2024, successful 9 PSA Challenger titles final yr, greater than some other lady.
She is the reigning senior and junior nationwide champion, which wasn’t a shock. However breaking into the highest 100 of the ladies’s PSA rankings for the primary time, to be poised at 82, was an vital improvement.
Anahat began out as a badminton participant, impressed by PV Sindhu, earlier than transferring to squash following in her elder sister’s footsteps. Born to hockey taking part in dad and mom Tani and Gursharan, the athletic genes run within the household, however squash developed from being a tag-along.
The Delhi lady grew to become so good at her sport that she was quickly dubbed a prodigy in India. The 2 bronze medals on the 2023 Asian Video games highlighted her promise, although it’s on the PSA circuit that she should make a reputation for herself.
Many gifted squash gamers in India have run within the Juniors, although the British Open juniors hasn’t ever been straightforward to nail down, particularly in U17 and U19s ranges. Many select to take up scholarships at Ivy League Universities although squash takes a backseat alongside the way in which after NCAA.
Amira performs on the Harvard squash crew and Anahat, coached by Ritwik Bhattacharya, would need to tread the identical path. Nevertheless her successes in glass courts and the proximity to the LA Video games imply she simply may commit her time fully to squash within the essential upcoming years.
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