REDWOOD CITY, California – In a display of poise that belies her tender age, 18-year-old squash prodigy Anahat Singh has once again rewritten the record books. The Indian sensation punched her ticket to the semi-finals of the Silicon Valley Open 2026 on Friday, orchestrating a breathtaking comeback to topple sixth-seeded Egyptian Salma Hany in a five-game marathon.
The victory, which spanned 42 minutes at the high-stakes PSA Gold-level event, marks the first time in her meteoric career that Singh has advanced to the penultimate round of a tournament of this prestige. With the win, the World No. 15 has signaled to the global squash community that her recent string of upsets is no fluke; she is a legitimate contender on the world stage.
Anahat rallies from behind to seal historic victory
The quarter-final clash began as a tactical chess match that initially tilted in favor of the experienced Hany. The Egyptian capitalized on early nerves from the teenager, finding her rhythm quickly to breeze through the opening game 11-4. While Singh managed to respond in the second, showcasing the court coverage and defensive agility that have become her hallmarks, the momentum shifted back to Hany in the third.
Trailing 1-2 in games, the match appeared to be slipping away from the young Indian. However, it was at this juncture that Singh demonstrated the tactical maturity of a seasoned veteran. Rather than folding under the pressure of the third-game deficit, she pivoted, increasing the pace of the rallies and pinning Hany to the back corners.
The fourth game was a masterclass in aggressive squash. Singh dismantled the Egyptian’s defenses, allowing her opponent to scrape together only two points in an 11-2 rout. The momentum was now firmly in the teenager’s corner. Entering the decider, Singh maintained her relentless intensity, dictating the tempo and dictating play with clinical precision. She closed out the match 11-5, securing a 4-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2, 11-5 victory that will surely go down as one of the most defining performances of her young career.
The Giant-Killer Continues Her Ascent
This latest victory serves as the crowning achievement of a week defined by defiance. Singh arrived in Redwood City with a clear objective, but few could have predicted the level of performance she would bring to the glass court. Her path to the semi-finals was paved with formidable hurdles, most notably an electric second-round upset of eight-time world champion and World No. 3 Nour ElSherbini.
That straight-games triumph over a legend of the sport served as the ultimate proof of concept for Singh. By following up that win with an endurance-testing comeback against Hany, Singh has shown that she possesses both the attacking flair to dismantle top-tier talent and the mental fortitude to survive grueling, drawn-out battles.
Asian Games final rematch awaits in semi-finals
As the tournament progresses, the stakes for Singh rise exponentially. Her semi-final opponent is none other than Malaysia’s World No. 4, Sivasangari Subramaniam. For the Indian contingent, the match carries significant emotional weight, as it serves as a high-stakes rematch of the 2026 Asian Games women’s singles final.
In that continental showdown, Subramaniam emerged victorious in three straight games, denying Singh the gold and relegating the Indian to a respectable, albeit heartbreaking, silver. That match remains a historical footnote for Singh, who became the first Indian woman ever to reach an Asian Games squash singles final.
Subramaniam, who cruised into the semi-finals after a commanding straight-games victory over compatriot Rachel Arnold, enters the match as the higher-ranked player and the tournament favorite. However, the Sivasangari of today faces a different version of Anahat Singh—a version that has grown sharper, more resilient, and increasingly comfortable under the bright lights of the PSA World Tour.
A New Era for Indian Squash
Anahat Singh’s performance in Silicon Valley is more than just a personal milestone; it represents a significant shift in the landscape of professional squash. As she prepares for the semi-final showdown, the narrative surrounding the 18-year-old has moved beyond the label of “rising star.” She has effectively graduated to the status of a legitimate threat to the sport’s established hierarchy.
Whether she can avenge her Asian Games loss and move one step closer to the Silicon Valley Open title remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the Indian sensation is no longer just knocking on the door of the elite—she is kicking it wide open. The squash world will be watching intently when the two rivals step onto the court for what promises to be a battle for the ages.
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