In a country obsessed with cricket, we often tend to forget about the players of other sports. One of the many such sportspersons is Anahat Singh. She recently shot to fame after winning her second British Junior Open title (in the under-15 female categories) in squash.
A lot of Indians may not know about the game of squash. It is a racket sport with two players, a hollow rubber ball, and a four-walled court. Players take turns hitting the ball over the tin and inside the “out of court” lines. While the sport in itself does not sound complex, it sure takes a lifetime to master it.
Family and Early life
Anahat Singh was born and brought up in a family of hockey enthusiasts. Anahat’s father, Gursharan Singh, is a lawyer now, while her mother, Tani Vadehra Singh, is an interior designer.
When Anahat was merely six years old, she began playing badminton. Alongside she used to accompany her sister Amira for squash practices. Her potential in the sport became evident as she participated in squash competitions out of interest. Her love for the sport peaked at 8 when her enthusiasm ultimately led her to switch to the game. When Anahat began playing squash at the tender age of 8, she quickly rose to the country’s top in the under-11 category. She shot to fame after winning the Girls U11 championship at the British Junior Open Squash in January 2019 and the Girls U13 title at the Dutch Junior Open Squash the following month.
Her passion for the sport and her top-notch skill turned her into a full-time squash player, and today, she stands alongside the greatest of players.
Youngest athlete in commonwealth games 2022
In 2020, Anahat Singh, a British School student in Delhi’s esteemed neighborhood of Chanakyapuri, bagged silver medals at the British and Malaysian Junior Open tournaments before COVID-19 disrupted life worldwide. The following year in Philadelphia, she became the first Indian woman to win the US Open in any age category. 2022 was a glorious year for Anahat as she won the under-15 gold at the Asian Junior Squash Championships in Thailand in June. This was an ever-increasing addition to her growing collection of medals, and she gained a seat in the national camp in Chennai after amassing a string of victories.
Anahat Singh became the youngest athlete at the commonwealth games 2022 as a member of the Indian team. She also won a round in the singles competition and fought bravely against Emily Whitlock, the second seed.
Recent Achievements
In January 2023, the British Junior Open was held in the UK, where the best players from all over the world competed to win this coveted title; the 14-year-old Anahat Singh defeated Sohaila Hazem of Egypt 3-1 in the final. Despite a closely contested first set, she took the lead and won the tournament.
She has now won 40 national titles, including two national and six international championships. Anahat Singh’s world ranking is number one in Asia and Europe. She has also featured in the ad campaign to promote squash in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
With a graph that is only soaring upward, Anahat Singh will forever be known as one of the most celebrated squash players worldwide.
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