The Daly College SRFI Indian Open 2025 final in Indore brings Indian squash to a symbolic turning point on Saturday evening.
At 6:30 pm, India’s teenage sensation Anahat Singh and the country’s most decorated player Joshna Chinappa will contest the women’s singles title on the all-glass court set against the historic façade of Daly College. The match is not only a domestic showdown for a PSA Challenger crown but a milestone marking the intersection of two eras in Indian squash. One represents the future; the other, the legacy that shaped it.
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The Indian Open in Indore is part of the PSA Challenger (Copper) circuit, a tier crucial for earning ranking points in the buildup to squash’s Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028. Both finalists arrive with different motivations but equal hunger: Anahat chasing momentum and elevation, Joshna seeking another statement in a glittering career approaching its twilight.
This final also reflects the broader push by the SRFI to bring high-quality international events to Indian soil. The glass-court environment, the outdoor elements, and the global competition all form an essential training ground for India’s Olympic hopefuls.
The Road to Saturday: Two Contrasting Journeys
Anahat Singh: The Prodigy Who Keeps Rising
At 17, Anahat Singh is already India’s top-ranked woman and one of the most talked-about teenagers in world squash. Ranked inside the PSA Top 40, she has enjoyed a breakthrough season marked by the PSA Young Player and Challenger Player of the Year awards. Her semi-final in Indore was the biggest test of her mental and physical resilience. After trailing two games to one against Ireland’s Hanna Craig, Anahat rebounded with composure, accelerating through the fourth and dominating the fifth. That ability to absorb pressure, recalibrate, and raise intensity confirms her readiness for the biggest matches on the PSA circuit.
Her 2025 season includes a World Junior bronze, multiple tour titles, and several high-quality international wins that indicate her capacity to challenge the world’s best. Behind her rise stands the expertise of coaches like Saurav Ghosal and former World No. 1 Grégory Gaultier, whose influence is evident in the refinement of her attacking instincts and court movement.
Joshna Chinappa: The Icon Still Standing Tall
At 39, Joshna Chinappa continues to defy sporting timelines. India’s only woman to break into the world top 10 and a 19-time national champion, she remains a formidable presence. Her path to the final has been rooted in tactical precision and the mastery of court geometry that has defined her career. She dismantled Spain’s Sofia Mateos in the quarter-finals and controlled her semi-final with the calm of someone who has spent two decades thriving under pressure.
Her win earlier this year over higher-ranked Akanksha Salunkhe at the Mumbai Indian Open is a reminder that Joshna still has the quality to outthink and outlast players far younger. With Olympic qualification on the horizon, this final is part of her larger plan to remain within striking distance of the ranking thresholds needed for LA 2028.
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The two have met only once before on the PSA Tour in March 2025 in Mumbai where Anahat defeated Joshna 3–1 in the semi-final. That match highlighted the generational narrative: Joshna’s precision and touch pulling the teenager into long rallies, while Anahat’s pace, early racket preparation, and volleying disrupted the veteran’s rhythm.
In Indore, the dynamic is similar, though layered with tournament fatigue. Anahat’s youth offers superior recovery; Joshna’s experience offers strategic control. Much will depend on who dictates the early pace and who adapts quicker to the nuances of the open-air glass court a variable that can change the bounce, slow length, and force improvisation.
What Each Player Must Do to Win
For Anahat Singh: She must keep rallies short and explosive, attacking immediately when the ball sits up and holding dominant T-position. Joshna thrives when she slows the ball; therefore, Anahat’s challenge is to deny her that comfort. Her physicality and quick bursts to the front court will be key.
For Joshna Chinappa: Joshna must turn the match into a lesson in control. Tight lines, early volleys, and forcing Anahat deep into the back corners will allow her to set the tempo. She also needs to stretch rallies and compel the teenager into shot-selection errors, especially in the midcourt.
What This Final Means for Indian Squash
Beyond the trophy, the final symbolizes India’s evolving competitive hierarchy. A win for Anahat would confirm the baton has officially passed, placing her at the centre of India’s LA 2028 plans. A win for Joshna would be a reminder that experience remains an elite asset and that her narrative is far from finished. Importantly, both players are central to India’s doubles ambitions, a format where the country sees strong Olympic potential. Their rivalry strengthens the national programme by raising the bar and widening the competitive base.
The SRFI Indian Open 2025 final is more than a domestic title match. It is a generational flashpoint one that captures where Indian squash has come from and where it is headed.
Whether it is the raw pace of Anahat Singh or the enduring craft of Joshna Chinappa that prevails, Saturday’s final will mark a defining moment in India’s journey toward becoming a global squash force.
