Celebrating Indian Squash Talent

On Tuesday, Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh were honored with the prestigious Player of the Year awards by the Asian Squash Federation (ASF) for their outstanding performances in the men's and women's categories.

Anahat Singh's Remarkable Achievements

Anahat, currently ranked 20th in the world for senior women's singles, received the ASF Girls' Player of the Year award, also known as the 'Hassan Musa award'. At just 18 years old, she has made a significant mark in the sport, clinching a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships held in Cairo and contributing to India's historic victory at the Squash World Cup last year. Additionally, she successfully defended her title at the Indian Open and has accumulated a total of 16 PSA level titles.

Historic Milestones and Rankings

Japan's Satomi Watanabe was recognized as the senior ASF Women's Player of the Year. Anahat's journey to success included defeating Commonwealth Games champion Georgina Kennedy from England to secure her first PSA Bronze-level title in February. This victory in Washington elevated her into the top 20, making her the youngest Asian woman to achieve this ranking, surpassing the legendary Nicol David from Malaysia.

Accolades in the PSA Season

During the 2024-25 season, Anahat's performance earned her the titles of 'PSA Challenger Female Player of the Season' and 'PSA Young Female Player of the Season'.

Abhay Singh's Recognition

Abhay Singh, ranked 25th globally and a medalist at the Asian Games, was awarded the ASF Men's Player of the Year, known as the 'Dato Alex Lee Award'. His recent achievements include winning his first Indian Open title, and like Anahat, he was part of the victorious Indian team at the World Cup last year.

India's Team Triumphs

The last time Indian squash players received accolades at the ASF Awards was in 2022, when Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa were honored in the men's and women's categories, respectively. Furthermore, India secured the men's team award after finishing with a bronze medal at the World Junior Team Championships 2025 in Egypt.

Looking Ahead: Squash at the Olympics

Squash is poised to make its Olympic debut in 2028 during the Los Angeles Games.