Anahat Singh didn't celebrate the World Junior Squash Championship title with confetti or shouting. She celebrated it with relief. After a decade on the court, the Indian prodigy finally capped her junior chapter with the biggest trophy available, a perfect send-off before she turns 19 and loses eligibility to compete in junior events. It’s a clean break, one that leaves her with nothing but momentum as she steps fully into the senior circuit.
The stakes have shifted dramatically. Singh is now the third seed in the women's singles draw at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, sitting behind top seed Sivasangari Subramaniam and second seed Satomi Watanabe. This isn't just another tournament; it’s the gateway to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squats makes its debut. The winner of the singles gold here takes a direct quota spot. For Singh, who won bronze in team and mixed doubles at Hangzhou three years ago, the pressure is different. She’s in the singles bracket now, and the margin for error is gone.
But the confidence isn't just from the trophy. It’s from a match in Hong Kong last December. Playing against a Belgian ranked inside the top 20, Singh won 3-1. That game changed her headspace. She realized she could compete with—and beat—the best in the world. “It turned my mentality around,” she said. “I realized I can push.” That psychological shift, forged in a senior tournament, is the real asset she’s carrying into the Asian Games.
She’s also in good company. Training alongside Gregory Gaultier, a former world No. 1, and Saurav Ghosal, an Indian pioneer who reached the top 10, has accelerated her growth. These two have navigated the exact pressures Singh faces now. Their presence has turned her close losses into wins, teaching her the psychological resilience needed to handle the senior elite. The environment isn’t just supportive; it’s elite.
Next up is Aichi-Nagoya. One step at a time, as her parents have always taught her. Enjoy the win for a few days, then erase it. The focus is singular: the Asian Games, and the Olympic dream waiting on the other side.