Meet Anahat Singh, India's Youngest National Squash Champion At 15

At just 15 years, Anahat Singh has broken the record for the youngest winner of the Senior National Squash Championship, with her splendid performance at the tournament on November 23. This was Singh's second appearance at the tournament, leading against Tanvi Khanna, who is 12 years senior than Singh. Due to a knee injury, Khanna had to suspend the tournament mid-way in the second game. 

Anahat Singh won 6-4 in the second half of the game, clutching the title of the Senior National Squash Champ, in spite of a slow start with a score of 9-11 in the first half. Last year, Singh was defeated at the Championship by opponent Joshna Chinappa, who held the title of the youngest National Champion at the age of 14 in 2000.

Who is Anahat Singh?

Anahat Singh was born on March 13, 2008, in Delhi. Her engagement with sports emerged from her parents who used to play hockey. Her father Gursharan Singh is a lawyer, and her mother Tani Vadehra Singh is an interior designer. They encouraged Singh to grow a fondness for sports, and Singh started playing badminton at the age of six, and then ventured into squash at eight years old.

Singh is no stranger to breaking records. She was the youngest player to represent India in every sport at the Commonwealth Games 2022, in Birmingham England. She was also the first girl to represent India at the Junior US Open Squash tournament in Philadelphia, USA, when she was 13 years old.

Both Singh and Tanvi Khanna were part of this year's Asian Games squad, winning bronze medals alongside Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik. Singh further won bronze in the mixed doubles event with partner Abhay Singh. Anahat Singh was also part of the 2021-22 Professional Squash Association World Tour.

At the National Squash Championship 2023, while Anahat Singh won the women's title, Velavan Senthilkumar cliched the winning title in the men's category. 

Suggested Reading: Sheetal Devi On Golden Run At Para Asian Archery Championship