India’s teenage squash prodigy Anahat Singh saw her remarkable run at the Canadian Women’s Open 2025 come to an end on Wednesday night after a straight-games defeat to England’s Georgina Kennedy in the semifinals.
The 17-year-old, ranked World No. 43, lost 11-5, 11-8, 12-10 in a 30-minute contest at the Brookfield Place courts in Toronto. Despite the loss, it was a week that firmly established Anahat among the most exciting young talents in world squash. Her run to the last four of this PSA Silver event highlighted by victories over two top-20 players — marked the finest performance of her senior career so far and one of the most significant breakthroughs for Indian squash in recent years.
Facing the experienced World No. 10 and reigning Commonwealth Games champion, Kennedy, Anahat began the semifinal with visible intent. She attacked early, used her trademark deception at the front of the court, and attempted to keep the rallies short. However, Kennedy’s composure and experience soon came to the fore. The Englishwoman maintained tight lines along the sidewalls, forcing Anahat to chase the ball and play from deep positions. Her pace and precision limited Anahat’s opportunities to dictate points, with the teenager struggling to find her usual rhythm.
The first game slipped quickly at 11-5, and although Anahat raised her intensity in the second, Kennedy’s control around the T and consistent volleys kept her in charge. The third game offered the tightest passage of play with Anahat saving two match points and pushing the English player into longer rallies but Kennedy held firm to close out the match 12-10.
It was a clinical display from the 28-year-old English star, who advanced to the final after neutralising one of the sport’s rising forces. For Anahat, it was a learning experience at the highest level and an encouraging sign of how close she already is to competing with the world’s elite.
Career-Best Week for the Indian Teen
The semifinal loss did little to diminish what had been an extraordinary campaign for the 17-year-old from Delhi. Her journey through the draw included a pair of statement wins that turned heads across the global squash fraternity.
In the Round of 16, Anahat produced her first career victory against a top-20 player, beating World No. 20 Melissa Alves of France 3-1 (12-10, 12-10, 8-11, 11-2). It was a match that showcased her patience and tactical awareness recovering from two tight tiebreaks to seize momentum and close out the contest in 45 minutes.
If that victory signaled her growing maturity, the quarterfinal upset against defending champion Tinne Gilis (World No. 7) confirmed her arrival on the world stage. The Indian teenager played with precision and fearlessness, winning 12-10, 11-9, 11-9 in just 36 minutes. Against Gilis, Anahat displayed remarkable control and composure. Even after falling behind 2-8 in the second game, she staged a stunning turnaround, reeling off nine of the next ten points to take the game 11-9. Her ability to vary pace, take the ball early, and dictate tempo caught the Belgian completely off guard. The result marked her first-ever win over a top-10 opponent, and one of the biggest victories by an Indian woman in PSA history.
According to PSA records, only two Indian women Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik have previously beaten higher-ranked opponents at this level. Anahat’s triumph over Gilis now stands as the third-best ranked win ever by an Indian female player.
What made her week even more impressive was the turnaround it represented. Just a week before Toronto, Anahat had struggled through an early exit at another PSA event and admitted to being frustrated with her form. In the short gap between tournaments, she worked on sharpening her movement and regaining rhythm and the transformation was immediate. Her performances in Canada reflected not only her technical growth but also her mental toughness, a quality that has defined her rise since dominating the junior circuit.
From the Asian U17 title to multiple junior championships, Anahat’s path to the PSA tour has been meteoric. But this was the week she proved that her potential could translate seamlessly onto the senior stage.
Reaching the semifinals of a PSA Silver event is a rare achievement for an Indian player, particularly at 17. The last time an Indian woman reached this stage at a Silver or higher-level tournament was nearly a decade ago. Anahat’s campaign in Toronto also made her the youngest Indian male or female to reach a PSA semifinal at this level. It marks a symbolic passing of the torch in Indian squash, with the teenager now positioned to carry forward the legacy built by Chinappa, Pallikal, and Saurav Ghosal.
Her wins against top-ranked opponents have also boosted her ranking trajectory. Currently placed at World No. 43, Anahat is projected to rise inside the top 35 when the PSA rankings update next week her highest-ever career position.
While the semifinal loss will sting momentarily, the broader significance of Anahat’s performance far outweighs the defeat. Her week in Toronto was not just about results it was about validation.
She has shown that she can challenge the best in the world, handle pressure on major stages, and convert opportunities into breakthroughs. Each match she played reflected maturity well beyond her years, and her progression on the PSA Tour is now being watched closely by the global squash community. For Indian squash, Anahat’s rise injects new energy into a sport seeking a generational shift. For the teenager herself, it’s another step in what is shaping up to be a remarkable journey.
The Canadian Women’s Open 2025 may have ended in a semifinal exit, but for Anahat Singh, it marked the moment she officially arrived not just as a future star, but as a genuine contender on the world stage.
Result: Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt Anahat Singh (IND) 11-5, 11-8, 12-10 (30 min)
Anahat’s Path to the Semifinal:
- bt Melissa Alves (FRA) 3-1 (12-10, 12-10, 8-11, 11-2)
- bt Tinne Gilis (BEL) 3-0 (12-10, 11-9, 11-9)
