The impressive campaign of India’s 18-year-old squash sensation Anahat Singh at the Silicon Valley Open in Redwood City reached its conclusion on Friday. Despite a strong start, the young athlete ultimately fell to Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam in a closely contested semifinal match that ended 3-1.
Anahat initially signaled her intent to dominate the court, securing the opening game with a commanding 11-5 scoreline. However, her Malaysian opponent mounted a significant recovery, adjusting her strategy to gain control of the match. Sivasangari claimed the subsequent three games—11-6, 11-4, and 11-7—to secure her place in the final. This matchup was a rematch of their encounter at the 2026 Asian Games held in Japan, where Sivasangari had previously defeated the Indian teenager in the women’s singles final.
Following the conclusion of the match, Sivasangari was quick to acknowledge the exceptional skill of her opponent. Speaking to the PSA website, she described the Indian player as a highly dangerous competitor. “Anahat is very talented and so dangerous. She’s definitely amongst the top girls now, and she’s still so young,” Sivasangari remarked. She added that while she began the match with a slower pace, finding her accuracy proved to be the decisive factor in overcoming the initial challenge posed by the teenager.
The loss in the semifinals does not overshadow what has been a breakout tournament for Anahat. Earlier in the event, the teenager demonstrated her elite capability by securing a hard-fought victory against world No. 14 Salma Hany in the quarterfinals. That match, which lasted 42 minutes, saw the youngster navigate a back-and-forth battle, ultimately winning 4-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2, and 11-5. During the earlier stages of the competition, she also recorded a notable win against eight-time world champion Nour ElSherbini.
This performance marks a significant milestone in Anahat’s professional career. By reaching the semifinal stage, she became the first Indian woman squash player to achieve such a feat at a PSA Tour Gold-level event since 2019. This achievement highlights her rapidly growing influence in the international squash circuit and solidifies her reputation as a rising star within the sport.
For the 18-year-old, this tournament provided valuable experience against some of the world’s most formidable players. While she ultimately succumbed to a familiar rival in Sivasangari, the consistency shown throughout the week suggests that she is closing the gap between herself and the established names in the professional sphere.
As the Silicon Valley Open moves into its concluding rounds, Anahat’s journey remains a focal point for Indian sports enthusiasts tracking her career. The teenager’s ability to compete at the highest level of the game indicates a promising trajectory. Moving forward, observers and pundits alike will likely look to see how she translates these performances into future appearances on the PSA circuit, as she continues to develop her accuracy and composure against seasoned world-class opponents.
Comments