From Sister’s Shadow to Asian Games Glory: 18-Year-Old Anahat Singh Bags Historic Squash Silver

Displaying remarkable court craft and maturity beyond her years, 18-year-old Indian squash sensation Anahat Singh clinched a historic silver medal in the women’s singles event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. Facing Malaysia's top-seeded powerhouse Sivasangari Subramaniam in the summit clash on Sunday, the teenage prodigy fought valiantly before going down 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 to secure second place on the continental podium. While the silver medal stands as an extraordinary athletic milestone in Indian racquet sports, it represents the culmination of over a decade of personal sacrifices, emotional resilience, and relentless commitment by her family to nurture her world-class talent.Inspired by Elder Sister Amira: Switching from Badminton Courts to the Squash Glass BoxAnahat's initiation into the elite sporting arena began through natural childhood curiosity rather than a rigid regime:Early Multi-Sport Exposure: Recalling her daughter's foundational years, her mother, Tani Wadhera Singh, shared that Anahat was naturally drawn to sports from an early age, actively taking part in diverse school competitions.The Initial Badminton Spark: Anahat was initially inclined toward badminton, heavily influenced by watching Indian badminton icon PV Sindhu compete on the international stage. Early badminton mentor Vikas Sharma recognized her agility, consistently urging her to pursue competitive sports seriously for India.Accidental Squash Transition: Her squash journey took root because of her elder sister, Amira, who was already competing on the junior squash circuit. Traveling along with the family to cheer for Amira, Anahat began picking up the racquet on practice courts during tournament intervals. The fast-paced geometry of the glass court quickly won her over, leading her to eventually leave badminton behind to focus entirely on squash.Father Cut Legal Practice to Travel: Seven Years of Unfunded Family StrugglesBehind Anahat's rise lies a foundation of immense parental dedication and logistical balancing:Father Scaled Down Legal Career: Her father, Gursharan Singh—a practicing advocate and former hockey player—deliberately curtailed his active legal practice in Delhi to accompany his teenage daughter across the demanding international circuit, which routinely required competing in 10 to 15 junior and senior tournaments globally each year.Bearing the Early Financial Burden: Her mother pointed out that the first seven to eight years of a young athlete's developmental phase are financially and emotionally taxing for any household. Before official sponsorships materialized, the family privately funded all equipment, court bookings, nutrition, international airfare, and coaching fees.Institutional Backing Arrives: As Anahat's breakthrough results began dominating national and continental circuits, vital institutional support arrived from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and the JSW sports program, transforming the family's years of solitary sacrifices into a sustainable high-performance career.Eyes Set on World Ranking Climb and Olympic Debut: Building for Long-Term MasteryWith a continental silver medal in hand, Anahat and her support team are taking a measured, long-term approach to elite progression:Climbing PSA World Rankings: Rather than rushing her development, the family and coaching staff are prioritizing consistent improvements in her Professional Squash Association (PSA) world ranking, which will determine direct entries into platinum-tier events.Roadmap to the Olympics and Commonwealth Games: With squash officially included in the Olympic programme, Anahat's training calendar is squarely aimed at securing direct qualification for the Olympic Games, alongside targeting gold at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.Refining Technical Nuances: Her mother emphasized that at just 18 years of age, Anahat has significant room to expand her physical endurance, shot deception, and tactical shot selection, with the team focusing on addressing minor weaknesses steadily rather than chasing quick accolades.