Anahat Singh remains grounded despite her historic World Junior Squash Championship victory

After becoming the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championship, Anahat Singh says the achievement still feels like a dream.

“It was truly incredible. It felt like a dream. I still feel like I’m dreaming,” said 18-year-old Anahat during a virtual press conference organized by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), recalling the moment the Indian flag was raised following her historic win.

Despite this major success, Anahat remains grounded. She credits her parents for teaching her to focus on her preparation and performance rather than external expectations.

“You shouldn’t think too much about what others expect from you. I just focus on my training and my game,” she said.

Lessons from past defeats

This title was particularly special as it was Anahat’s final opportunity to compete at the junior level. Having missed out on victory in previous tournaments despite playing well, she was determined not to repeat those mistakes.

“I had come close to the final before and lost after taking a lead. I am happy that I handled those situations better this time,” she said.

Unfazed by Egypt’s dominance

Anahat’s victory also ended Egypt’s long-standing dominance in the tournament, making her the first champion from outside Egypt in 16 years. En route to the title, she defeated three consecutive Egyptian players.

However, the young athlete emphasized that she never let these statistics influence her mindset.

“Whether the opponent is from Egypt or any other country, a match is a match. I don’t like to think too much about history or statistics, as they can affect your game,” she explained. She acknowledged that knowing this was her last chance to win the junior title helped her play with greater freedom throughout the tournament. Her family and coach serve as her greatest support system.

Anahat shared that during matches, she often looks towards her parents and coach outside the court for encouragement.

She said, “Whenever I look out, I see my parents or coach. They always encourage me to keep going. Their support gives me confidence, especially during tough matches.” She also acknowledged the guidance received from former world number one Gregory Gaultier and Indian squash legend Saurav Ghosal, noting that both have played a pivotal role in bringing consistency to her game over the past few years.

Focus on Asian Games and Los Angeles 2028

After completing her schooling, Anahat has decided to take a gap year before starting university so she can fully focus on her international competition schedule leading up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Her immediate goal is the upcoming Asian Games, where winning a gold medal would secure direct qualification for squash’s debut at the 2028 Olympics.

She said, “The Asian Games is a massive event in itself. Olympic qualification is an added incentive, and I will give it my all.”

At the same time, Anahat noted that direct qualification isn’t the only path to the Olympics, and knowing this helps alleviate some of the pressure.

Inspiration from PV Sindhu

One of Anahat’s biggest sources of inspiration is two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, whom she has admired since childhood. Although they have never met in person, Sindhu congratulated the young squash star following her tournament victory in Canada. Anahat said, “I have been watching her matches since I was about four years old. I am delighted that she took note of my achievement. Not everyone gets the opportunity to compete at a global level.”

Following this historic victory, Anahat will return to Delhi to train and prepare for the next phase of her career, with her sights set on the Asian Games and the 2028 Olympics.

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News Source: The Times of India