'I Still Have to Improve Physically': World Junior Squash Champion Anahat Singh Turns Focus to Senior Circuit

New Delhi, July 28: A couple of days after scripting history as the first Indian to win the World Squash Junior Championships, teen sensation Anahat Singh is already looking ahead. While the squash world celebrates her landmark triumph in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, the 18-year-old has shifted her attention to the next phase of her journey i.e. becoming a consistent performer on the PSA World Tour, winning Asian Games gold and ultimately qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

The teenager from Delhi, who became the first non-Egyptian to lift the prestigious junior title in more than five decades, admitted that despite her breakthrough success, there is still plenty to improve.

"I'd say just improving a bit physically as well. I think that's not always been my strong point, but I feel like I'm improving that as I'm training more. I think naturally, as I become older, that's something that's going to keep improving," Anahat said during a virtual interaction with the media.

For Anahat, the biggest challenge now is not producing one-off performances but maintaining a consistently high level against the world's best.

"I want to be able to back up multiple tough matches continuously and not just play one good match and go flat in the next one. Being very consistent throughout the whole year and throughout the season is something that I want to work towards," she added.

PSA Tour Has Raised Her Standards

Anahat believes her regular appearances on the PSA World Tour have accelerated her development far beyond what junior squash alone could have offered.

"The amount of experience I've gotten in the last year playing against players in the top 10 and top 20 has made a huge difference. Not every player gets that opportunity," she said.

"Playing those events helps me understand how much work I have to put in every single day. When I'm not playing my best squash, I think about those matches against the top players and focus on playing at my optimum level rather than taking too much pressure."

That exposure, she feels, has prepared her to compete for bigger honours beyond the junior circuit.

Turning Heartbreak Into History

The title was particularly satisfying because it came after painful near misses in previous editions of the World Juniors.

"I've been really close to reaching the finals in the last two World Juniors and lost after leading in those matches. I'm glad I didn't let the same mistake happen again in this tournament," she said.

Anahat also refused to be distracted by the statistics surrounding Egypt's long-standing dominance of the event, even though she defeated three Egyptian opponents en route to the crown.

"Whether it's an Egyptian or any other nationality, a match is still a match. I don't like thinking too much about statistics or history because sometimes it can affect you negatively. I just treated every match the same."

Learning From the Best

A significant part of Anahat's rapid rise has been her work with Indian squash legend Saurav Ghosal and former World No. 1 Gregory Gaultier over the past two years.

"I've been working with Greg and Saurav for almost two years. Having Saurav here in Canada made a huge difference. Just having him in my corner throughout the tournament helped a lot."

She believes learning from two of the sport's greatest minds has transformed her game. "They've helped me become mentally and physically stronger. Having people who've been World No. 1 and World Top 10 behind me has changed my game completely."

Coach Harinder Sandhu: Mental Strength Won Anahat the Title

India's junior team coach and Arjuna Awardee Harinder Pal Sandhu, who travelled with the squad to Canada, said Anahat's greatest challenge during the tournament wasn't tactical but emotional.

"Leading up to this achievement, she had suffered three heartbreaking losses at the World Juniors. Suddenly you're in that moment where all those heartbreaks flash before your eyes," Harinder said.

"My role wasn't just about strategy. It was about understanding what she was feeling and making sure she stayed mentally strong and emotionally stable."

Harinder revealed that the decisive moments came late in the final when momentum briefly shifted.

"When the lead was going out of her hands in the third game, everything from outside was about telling her to stay strong, be bold and not think about the end result. It was about focusing on those small, crucial moments, and those moments eventually won her the World Junior crown," he explained.

Asian Games Gold Before LA 2028

While Los Angeles 2028 is firmly on the horizon following squash's inclusion in the Olympic programme, Anahat's immediate objective is the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where a gold medal would secure direct qualification for the Olympics.

Indian squash has enjoyed remarkable success at the Asian Games over the past decade. The men's team struck gold at both the 2014 Incheon and 2022 Hangzhou Games, while Indian players have consistently finished on the podium in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events. Anahat now hopes to continue that rich legacy while taking the biggest step yet in her senior career.

"Every squash player is over the moon that squash is finally in the Olympics. If I qualify through the Asian Games, I'll be the first Indian squash player to qualify. That's really exciting," she said.

She, however, stressed that the Asian Games would remain a massive target irrespective of the Olympic qualification on offer.

"Asian Games alone is a huge event whether or not the Olympics were a part of the picture. The Olympics are an added bonus. I'm just going to give it my 100% and make sure I'm at my best when the Asian Games come around."

Harinder believes careful planning over the next three years could put India in contention for an Olympic medal.

"The ideal pathway is to win a medal at the Asian Games. Apart from that, world ranking will also play a crucial role. Planning has to be done very carefully and peaking has to be managed properly. If everything goes well, we will be winning a medal at the LA 2028 Olympics," he said.

Privilege Over Pressure

Despite becoming one of Indian sport's brightest young stars, Anahat insists expectations don't weigh her down.

"It's more a privilege than pressure. Not everyone gets this opportunity to compete on the world stage. I just focus on the amount of training I've done and my game. If I keep putting in the work, everything else will take care of itself."

The World Junior title may have fulfilled one of Anahat Singh's biggest dreams, but judging by her mindset just hours after making history, she has already moved on to chasing much bigger ones.