Redwood City, October 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian squash sensation Anahat Singh stormed into her maiden PSA Gold-level semifinal at the Silicon Valley Open, battling back from a game down twice to defeat Egyptian sixth seed Salma Hany in a thrilling five-game quarterfinal.
The world No. 15 defeated Hany, ranked 14th globally, 4-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2, 11-5 in 42 minutes on Thursday. The 18-year-old’s victory came a day after she stunned Egyptian world No. 3 and eight-time world champion Nour ElSherbini in straight games.
After trailing 2-1, Anahat produced a commanding finish, winning the final two games 11-2 and 11-5 to secure her place in the last four.
“I’ve never played her before, and I didn’t know what to expect coming on to the court. I have watched her play so many times, and she is so experienced on the PSA Tour,” Anahat said of Hany.
Reflecting on her previous day’s upset, she added that the win over ElSherbini gave her confidence that she could compete against any opponent when playing well. Despite feeling tired after the emotional intensity of that victory, she said she was determined to maintain her momentum.
Anahat, the reigning world junior champion, will next face Malaysia’s world No. 4 Sivasangari Subramaniam, the reigning Asian Games champion. Subramaniam defeated Anahat in the women’s singles final at the 2026 Asian Games.
The Delhi-born player has enjoyed a remarkable year. She won the girls’ singles title at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championships, becoming the first Indian to claim the crown and ending Egypt’s 15-year reign in the event.
At the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Anahat also won women’s singles silver, becoming the first Indian woman to reach the squash singles final at the continental showpiece. She had earlier earned two bronze medals at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, in women’s team and mixed doubles events.
FOLLOW NOW
