Imagine the roar of the crowd, the squeak of shoes on the court, and the electric tension in the air as a rising star clashes with a seasoned legend... That's exactly what happened when Anahat Singh, India's squash sensation, faced off against Joshna Chinappa in the SRFI Indian Open 2025 final! But the real story here is how this young prodigy, just 17 years old, managed to dethrone a squash icon.
In a thrilling display of skill and determination at the Daly College in Indore, Anahat Singh, the top seed and India’s No. 1 female squash player (ranked 33rd globally), emerged victorious against the unseeded Joshna Chinappa. The final score? A nail-biting 3-2 (11-8, 11-13, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9) after an intense 54-minute battle.
Anahat started strong, grabbing the first game with a 7-4 lead. But here's where it gets controversial... veteran Joshna, a two-time Asian champion at 39 years old, wasn't about to go down without a fight. She clawed her way back, briefly taking the lead at 8-7. However, Anahat showed incredible composure, sealing the game with four consecutive points.
The second game saw Anahat continue her dominance, surging ahead to a 10-7 advantage. But Joshna, displaying her years of experience and resilience, mounted a stunning comeback, snatching four straight points to lead 11-10 and eventually winning the game 13-11. This comeback really showcased Chinappa's mental fortitude, a quality that has kept her at the top of her game for so long.
The seesaw battle continued in the third game. Joshna led 9-8, but Anahat, with her youthful energy and determination, secured three crucial points to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
With the title within reach, Joshna came out firing in the fourth game, establishing a commanding 4-0 lead. She extended it to 9-2, seemingly unstoppable. While Anahat managed to string together four points, it wasn't enough to prevent Joshna from forcing a decisive fifth game. And this is the part most people miss... even though Anahat lost the fourth game convincingly, she didn't let it break her spirit. That's the mark of a true champion!
The final game was a testament to both players' fighting spirit. Despite Joshna's relentless challenge, Anahat held her nerve and clinched the fifth game, securing her third title of the season. This victory adds to her impressive collection, which includes the Indian Open event in Mumbai and the SRFI Indian Tour title in Chennai. Overall, this marks Anahat Singh's 12th PSA title – an incredible feat for someone so young!
This wasn't the first time these two talented players had faced each other. Back in March, Anahat defeated Joshna 3-1 in the semi-finals of the Indian Open in Mumbai.
Leading up to the SRFI Indian Open, Anahat had a challenging semi-final against Ireland’s Hannah Craig, ultimately winning 3-2 (11-4, 10-12, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4). Joshna, on the other hand, secured her spot in the final by defeating Egypt’s second seed, Nadien Elhammamy, 3-1 (7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7).
Anahat's recent performances have been nothing short of spectacular. At the Canadian Women’s Open, she defeated world No. 7 Tinne Gilis and world No. 20 Melissa Alves before losing to world No. 10 Georgina Kennedy in the semi-finals.
In August, she made history as the first Indian woman to reach the final of a PSA World Tour Copper-level event at the NSW Squash Bega Open 2025 in Australia.
Adding to her accolades, Anahat won a bronze medal at the World Junior Squash Championships 2025 in Egypt in July, ending India's 15-year wait for an individual medal in the under-19 category.
Earlier in the year, Anahat secured Asian senior titles in both women’s and mixed doubles and made her senior World Championship debut in Chicago.
In 2024, she dominated the scene with nine PSA Challenger titles and started 2025 strong by winning the British Junior Open U-17 crown in January. She also contributed to India's bronze-winning performance at the Asian Junior Team Championships.
Her outstanding achievements earned her the PSA Challenger Female Player of the Season award for 2024-25. She also shared the PSA Young Female Player of the Season award with World Junior Champion Amina Orfi.
Anahat Singh's rise to prominence is truly inspiring. But here's a question to ponder: Is it fair to compare a young talent like Anahat to a long-standing champion like Joshna? While Anahat's victory is undoubtedly impressive, Joshna's experience and contributions to Indian squash are undeniable. Who do you think will have a greater impact on the future of Indian squash, and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
