Anahat Singh Continues Her Golden Run with HCL Squash Indian Tour 4 Title

Indian squash’s newest standard-bearer Anahat Singh added yet another milestone to her rapidly growing career, clinching the HCL Squash Indian Tour 4 (PSA Challenger 15K) title in Chennai.

The 17-year-old edged out India’s squash icon Joshna Chinappa in a gripping five-game final to secure her 14th PSA title and complete back-to-back tournament wins, underlining her rise as one of the most exciting talents on the world circuit.

In a final that lived up to its billing, Anahat prevailed 3–2 in a high-quality encounter that swung repeatedly in momentum. The scoreline 11-8, 11-13, 11-13, 11-6, 11-8 reflected both the intensity of the contest and the mental toughness required to come through against a vastly experienced opponent. For Anahat, the victory marked her third consecutive win over Joshna Chinappa, a statistic that captures just how rapidly she has closed the generational gap in Indian squash.

The Chennai final was more than a match; it was a snapshot of Indian squash’s past, present, and future converging on one court. Joshna Chinappa, the country’s most successful female squash player, rolled back the years with her trademark resilience and retrieval skills. Anahat, meanwhile, brought pace, accuracy, and unwavering belief.

After splitting the first three games, Anahat seized control in the fourth, racing ahead with aggressive length and crisp finishing to force a decider. In the fifth game, she held her nerve superbly, absorbing pressure before closing out the match 11-8 to seal the title.

While Joshna’s fighting spirit once again stood out, it was Anahat’s composure in the key moments that proved decisive a quality increasingly associated with the teenager despite her age.

Dominant Run Through the Draw

Anahat’s title win was built on a series of commanding performances throughout the tournament. As the top seed, she lived up to expectations, starting with a straight-games win over Tamara Holzbauerová of the Czech Republic in the early rounds. Her authority on court was even more evident in the quarter-finals, where she dismantled Akari Midorikawa of Japan 3–0 with emphatic scores of 11-2, 11-2, 11-8.

In the semi-finals, Anahat faced third seed Hayley Ward and delivered another assured performance, winning 3–0 to book her place in the final. Across these matches, her ability to dictate rallies from the front of the court stood out, as did her improved movement and shot selection under pressure.

Joshna Chinappa’s presence in the final was no surprise, given her own strong run through the draw. She produced one of the standout matches of the tournament in the quarter-finals, staging a dramatic comeback against second seed Nardine Garas of Egypt, winning 3–2 after trailing deep in the decider. Joshna then overcame compatriot Tanvi Khanna in another five-set battle to reach the final, ensuring an all-Indian showdown on championship day.

Ranking Rise and Bigger Picture

Anahat’s latest triumph has propelled her to a career-high World No. 27 in the PSA rankings, a remarkable achievement for a 17-year-old still in the early stages of her professional journey. Sponsored by JSW Sports, Anahat has now firmly established herself not just as a promising junior but as a consistent threat on the senior circuit.

This title also served as valuable preparation ahead of upcoming international assignments, including team events like the Squash World Cup, where India’s improving depth is becoming increasingly evident.

The HCL Squash Indian Tour 4 highlighted the strength of Indian squash overall, with multiple Indians reaching the latter stages across categories. In the men’s event, Velavan Senthilkumar clinched the title, adding to the sense of momentum building within the sport nationally.

For Anahat Singh, however, Chennai belonged entirely to her. Fourteen PSA titles, back-to-back tournament wins, and victories over one of India’s greatest-ever players all before turning 18.

The trajectory is unmistakable, and with each performance, Anahat continues to redefine what is possible for Indian squash on the global stage.