Indian squash continues to announce itself on the world stage, and on Thursday in New York, Anahat Singh delivered another statement performance.
The 17-year-old Indian, ranked World No. 31, defeated Lucy Turmel of England (WR 32) in four games to advance to the Pre-Quarterfinals of the prestigious Tournament of Champions 2026, a PSA World Tour Platinum event. In a match that lasted 43 minutes and swung sharply in momentum, Anahat prevailed 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11, showcasing both her attacking intent and growing composure under pressure. The win sets up a high-profile Round of 16 clash against Japan’s Satomi Watanabe (World No. 7), one of the tournament’s top seeds.
A commanding start from Anahat
From the very first rally, Anahat looked in complete control. Using her speed and clean ball-striking, she pinned Turmel behind the back wall and forced the English player into rushed retrieves. The opening game was one-way traffic, with Anahat dictating the pace and angles, repeatedly finding the nick with her forehand drives and drop shots. Turmel struggled to establish any rhythm as the Indian stormed through the first game 11-3.
The second game followed a similar pattern. Anahat’s ability to cut off rallies early, combined with her relentless movement, left Turmel chasing shadows. The Indian teenager varied her shots smartly, mixing length with sudden short balls to keep her opponent off balance. Turmel had little answer as Anahat moved two games clear with an emphatic 11-6.
At that stage, the match seemed to be heading towards a routine straight-games victory.
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However, Turmel, ranked just one place below Anahat in the world, showed why she is such a dangerous competitor. The third game saw the Englishwoman raise her intensity, pushing Anahat into longer rallies and tightening up her own shot selection. With fewer unforced errors and more controlled pressure, Turmel began to wrest back some momentum.
Anahat still created opportunities, but Turmel held her nerve at the crucial moments and closed out the third game 11-9, forcing the match into a fourth and shifting the psychological balance.
A dramatic fourth-game finish
The fourth game became the defining chapter of the contest. Both players exchanged leads in a tense and physical battle, with rallies stretching longer and each point growing in importance. Anahat continued to look for attacking openings, while Turmel relied on her consistency and retrieval skills to stay in the contest.
At 10-10, the pressure was immense. Turmel earned a game ball at 11-10, threatening to take the match into a decider. But this was where Anahat’s mental strength came to the fore. She saved the game ball with a precise length shot that forced a weak return, then followed it up with a brave attacking winner.
From there, the Indian seized control. Two more composed points later, Anahat closed out the game 13-11, sealing the match 3-1 and punching her ticket to the Pre-Quarterfinals. It was a display of maturity well beyond her years, particularly given the stakes and the quality of the opponent.
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The Tournament of Champions is one of squash’s most prestigious events, and wins here carry significant weight. For Anahat, already the youngest Indian to break into the top 40 of the PSA World Rankings, this victory further reinforces her growing reputation as one of the sport’s most exciting young prospects.
Her performance against Turmel combined technical clarity with emotional control. After dominating the early stages, she did not panic when Turmel clawed her way back. Instead, Anahat trusted her game and executed under pressure, a vital trait at the elite level.
Anahat’s reward for this win is a Round of 16 clash against Satomi Watanabe, the Japanese star ranked World No. 7. Watanabe brings experience, consistency, and a high-tempo style that will test every part of Anahat’s game. While the ranking gap is significant, Anahat will take confidence from her recent run of strong performances on the PSA Tour. With momentum on her side and nothing to lose, she will be eager to push one of the world’s best and continue her breakthrough campaign.
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The opening round at the Tournament of Champions also saw several notable results. Egypt’s Kenzy Ayman edged past compatriot Nour Aboulmakarim in a five-game thriller, while Mohamad Zakaria defeated Switzerland’s Nicolas Mueller in straight games. Fifth seed Youssef Ibrahim also advanced after a four-game win over Mohamed Abouelghar.
Amid that strong field, Anahat Singh’s victory stood out as one of the day’s most significant, underlining India’s growing presence in elite women’s squash.
As the tournament moves into its decisive stages, Anahat remains firmly in the spotlight, carrying the hopes of Indian squash into one of the biggest events on the world tour.
