Anahat Singh reaches maiden PSA Gold semi-final at Silicon Valley Open

Indian squash sensation Anahat Singh fought back from behind to defeat Egypt's Salma Hany in five games at Redwood City, California, securing her maiden PSA Gold-level semi-final berth.

The 18-year-old world No. 15 took 42 minutes to edge past the sixth-seeded Egyptian 4-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2, 11-5 in their quarter-final on 22 October 2026. The breakthrough victory came barely 24 hours after she eliminated eight-time world champion and world No. 3 Nour El Sherbini in straight games.

Her march in California highlights the rapid progress of Indian athletes on the global stage, bolstered by long-term coaching programmes, improved domestic training infrastructure and strong institutional backing that continue to deliver results in senior international competition.

How Anahat turned the quarter-final around

Hany made a sharp start, taking advantage of early errors to claim the opening game 11-4. Singh responded by taking the second 11-8, but found herself on the back foot again when the world No. 14 took the third game by the same 11-4 margin.

Facing elimination, the Delhi teenager switched gears. She overpowered Hany in the fourth game, dropping just two points, and carried that control into the decider to seal the match 11-5.

"I did not start off well. The first game was 11-4, which was a pretty bad start," Singh said after the match. "However, I wanted to find a way to make my way back into the match and put up a fight. Whether it resulted in a win or a loss, I did not want to let it go too easily."

Singh admitted that the physical and mental exertion from defeating El Sherbini the previous day had lingered. "I just didn't want to let go of the momentum today, I wanted to give it my all and I'm happy to get one step further in the tournament," she said.

Setting up an Asian Games final rematch

Singh's progression in Redwood City builds on a watershed season. In July 2026, she became the first Indian player to win the girls' singles crown at the World Junior Squash Championships, before claiming a historic women's singles silver medal at the Asian Games.

Her quarter-final win sets up a semi-final clash with Malaysia's world No. 4 Sivasangari Subramaniam, who defeated compatriot Rachel Arnold in straight games.

The meeting offers Singh an immediate rematch of their Asian Games singles final, where Subramaniam took gold with a 3-0 victory. With a spot in a Gold-level final on the line, Singh now stands one victory away from another landmark for Indian squash.