Indian squash sensation Anahat Singh is turning promise into performance on the international stage. Less than 24 hours after defeating Egyptian great Nour El Sherbini, the 18-year-old produced another statement victory, fighting back from a game down twice to overcome sixth seed Salma Hany and reach her maiden Professional Squash Association (PSA) Gold-level semifinal at the Silicon Valley Open in Redwood City, California.
The world No. 15 defeated Egypt’s world No. 14 Hany 4-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2, 11-5 in a gripping 42-minute quarterfinal on Thursday. The victory marks a significant milestone in Anahat’s senior career, strengthening her growing reputation as one of India’s most exciting squash prospects. According to tournament coverage, she is also the first Indian woman since 2019 to reach the semifinal stage of a PSA Gold-level event.
The achievement comes amid a strong run against some of the sport’s established names. The quarterfinal began on a difficult note for the Indian, as Hany took the opening game 11-4. Anahat responded with greater urgency in the second, securing an 11-8 win to level the contest. However, the Egyptian regained the advantage by taking the third game 11-4, leaving the Indian facing the challenge of winning two consecutive games to stay in the tournament.
Anahat delivered her strongest response when it mattered most. She dominated the fourth game 11-2, putting Hany under sustained pressure and forcing a deciding game. Carrying that momentum forward, the Indian maintained control in the fifth, winning 11-5 to seal the contest. The scoreline reflected more than a comeback. It demonstrated Anahat’s ability to reset after setbacks, adapt to an opponent’s rhythm and maintain composure when the match was on the line.
Reflecting on the challenge, Anahat said, “I’ve never played her before, and I didn’t know what to expect coming on to the court. I have watched her play so many times, and she is so experienced on the PSA Tour,” She added, “Especially after winning yesterday (against ElSherbini), I know that If I’m playing well I had a chance against whoever I played. I wanted to come in with that mindset.”
The win followed another major breakthrough for Anahat, who had beaten world No. 3 and eight-time world champion Nour El Sherbini in straight games in the previous round. That result had already underlined her ability to compete against elite opposition. Her performance against Hany showed she could also handle a longer, fluctuating contest. The back-to-back victories were particularly notable because Anahat admitted that she was feeling tired ahead of the quarterfinal.
The emotional intensity of defeating El Sherbini could have made it difficult to reproduce the same level of performance, but the Indian remained determined to extend her campaign. “…because of the emotions after winning yesterday. I just didn’t want to let go of the momentum today, I wanted to give it my all and I’m happy to get one step further in the tournament,”
The reigning world junior champion arrived in California after winning singles silver at the recent Asian Games. That achievement had already marked an important step in her senior career, and her progress at the Silicon Valley Open has added another significant result to her season. The tournament, held from October 20 to 24, features leading international players competing at PSA Gold level. The women’s event carries a reported prize purse of USD 143,500, providing a high-level platform for players seeking ranking progress against strong opposition. Silicon Valley Open official media page
Anahat’s next challenge is Malaysian world No. 4 Sivasangari Subramaniam, the reigning Asian Games champion. The semifinal offers the Indian an opportunity to test herself against a familiar opponent after losing to Subramaniam in the women’s singles final at the Asian Games. Subramaniam’s ranking and experience make her a formidable obstacle, and the matchup will demand another disciplined performance from Anahat.
The Indian will need to carry forward the attacking intent she displayed against Hany while managing the pressure and pace that come with facing a top-four player. The semifinal is also a chance for Anahat to measure how much she has progressed since the Asian Games final. While the result will be important, her run in California has already shown that she can challenge established players and recover from difficult match situations.
For Indian squash, her latest achievement is an encouraging sign of progress on the international circuit. Anahat has moved beyond simply competing with higher-ranked opponents to defeating them in succession, and her maiden PSA Gold-level semifinal represents a new benchmark in her career. Anahat Singh’s breakthrough is about more than reaching a semifinal.
It is about proving she can win in different ways. Her straight-games victory over El Sherbini demonstrated her capacity to challenge an established champion, while the five-game win against Hany tested her resilience, tactical adjustment and ability to recover under pressure.
At 18, Anahat is building the experience needed to compete consistently at the highest level. The semifinal against Sivasangari Subramaniam will provide another measure of her progress, especially after the disappointment of the Asian Games final. Regardless of the result, this campaign signals that Indian squash has a young player increasingly capable of making her presence felt on the PSA Tour.
