With squash set to make its historic Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, India’s rising and established players are already shifting their long-term vision toward the sport’s biggest-ever stage. For young sensation Anahat Singh, the inclusion has transformed ambitions, bringing a new level of purpose and excitement to the global squash circuit.
Speaking ahead of the JSW Indian Open in Mumbai, Anahat highlighted how the Olympics have redefined career goals for players across the world. “It’s obviously very exciting. (It) is the first time that it is a part of the Olympics, and all the athletes have been really looking forward to it,” Anahat said. “Before this, the biggest event (one) could play was maybe the Commonwealth (Games), but now the Olympics is there, and it’s of course, every athlete’s dream to go and play in the Olympics and win a medal.”
The teenager believes that the Olympic spotlight will dominate the sport’s narrative in the coming years, shaping training cycles and competitive priorities. “For the next few years, that is going to be everyone’s aim, and in the long run, that is going to be on my mind as well, to make sure that I’m able to train up to the Olympics and possibly get a medal for the country,” she added.
The JSW Indian Open, a PSA Copper-level tournament, serves as a crucial stepping stone for players to accumulate ranking points while building momentum ahead of the upcoming Asian Games, a key qualification pathway for the Olympics.
For Anahat, however, the approach remains grounded. The young star is prioritizing steady progress, keeping her focus on immediate tournaments while carrying the larger Olympic dream in the background. “There’s a lot of tournaments on the way before the Asian Games. I’m just trying to take you one step at a time, firstly focus on this one and then the upcoming ones,” she said.
“It’s (Asian Games) definitely there in the pictures. It’s very, very soon, and it’s one of the major games as well. Last time I got two bronze medals, so hopefully I can do better and change it to a silver or a gold as well,” Anahat added.
As squash enters a new era, Indian players are not just preparing for competitions, she are preparing for history.
