An evolving challenge for Anahat after rise to top 20

For the moment, the young Indian has a novelty factor, but that won't always remain the same

- Rutvick Mehta

Anahat Singh, 18, has won PSA Bronze and Copper level titles in the last two months.

(HT PHOTO)

For a sport that has only had a handful of Indians get to where she’s at currently, Anahat Singh is pretty nonchalant about being among the world’s best 20 female pros at age 18.

“T think this was the easier part,” she said, sitting back fora chat after partaking in numerous photos and videos as the women’s champion of the home PSA event.

She nods her head when a sporting adage is brought up - it is more difficult to stay on top than to get there. Not that she, or her mentor Saurav Ghosal who has gone a few levels higher as a former top-10 pro, think this is where she is likely to stay.

“We genuinely don’t believe that this is the ceiling,” said Ghosal.

Anahat’s surge into the elite over the past year, from being ranked outside 80 in January 2025 to 20 now, had been anticipated by many in Indian squash. Yet on the PSA tour, where she started playing more regularly only last year while also juggling junior and Challenger events, the Indian teen carried a novelty factor against top players who hadr’t seen a lot of her game.

Anahat took the fast lane riding the novelty wheel.