Anahat Singh Makes History as Youngest Asian to Enter PSA Top 20 Rankings
Indian teenage squash star Anahat Singh has created sporting history by becoming the youngest Asian player ever to break into the prestigious PSA World Top 20 rankings. This remarkable achievement follows her stunning victory at the Fire Open in Washington, where she captured her first-ever PSA bronze-level title in spectacular fashion.
A Historic Week for Indian Squash
The 15-year-old prodigy capped off an extraordinary week with a performance that has rewritten the record books. By defeating world number 10 Georgina Kennedy of England in straight games (12-10, 11-5, 11-7) during the final, Singh not only secured her biggest career title but also demonstrated her readiness to compete at the highest levels of professional squash.
Her journey through the tournament was nothing short of spectacular. Singh embarked on what commentators have called a "giant-killing run" that included victories over world number 17 in the quarterfinals and world number 23 in the semifinals before her ultimate triumph against the top-seeded Kennedy.
Breaking Records and Setting New Standards
With this victory, Anahat Singh has shattered the previous record held by eight-time world champion Nicol David, establishing herself as the youngest Asian athlete to reach the elite top 20 in PSA rankings. The bronze-level title represents her 15th overall victory on the PSA Tour, an impressive accomplishment achieved in just 26 tournaments.
"I'm extremely happy," Singh told Squash TV after her historic win. "Coming into this event, I played the British Junior Open a few weeks back and I didn't play too well. I knew in between these events I had some time to train, and I did as much as I possibly could to get the best out of my game."
She added, "I knew I wanted to do well in these events, get my ranking up and also put on a performance, and I'm glad I was able to do that this time."
Seamless Transition from Junior to Senior Circuit
Anahat Singh's remarkable ascent comes after a successful transition from junior to senior-level competition. The teenager has already medaled at both the Asian Games 2023 and the 2022 Commonwealth Games, experiences that have proven invaluable in her professional development.
Reflecting on this transition, Singh explained to The Indian Express during the nationals, "There is a huge difference in the levels but it has been a decent transition for me. I am still learning quite a lot through it. Before I started going on the PSA tour, I played at CWG and Asiads and it helped me in the transition."
She elaborated on how these multi-sport tournaments helped her development: "At these events, I saw how these top 20 players play and deal with high pressure situations. At that time, I had no chance against them but over the past years, my confidence has been growing. Playing at multi-sports tournaments helped me understand what my level was and how much work I needed to do."
Mentorship and Future Prospects
Under the guidance of former Indian national champion Saurav Ghoshal, Singh is methodically navigating her transition to senior-level competition. Her approach remains measured and focused, with the young athlete preferring to take one step at a time rather than rushing her development.
The victory in Washington represents more than just another title for the rising star. It marks a significant milestone in Indian squash history and signals the arrival of a genuine contender on the world stage. With her ranking jump of 12 places following this triumph, Anahat Singh has firmly established herself as one of the most promising talents in international squash.
As she continues to develop under expert mentorship and gain valuable experience against top-ranked opponents, the sporting world watches with anticipation to see how much further this remarkable young athlete can climb in the competitive world of professional squash.
