Anurag Thakur Hails Anahat Singh's Asian Games Silver
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur congratulated squash player Anahat Singh on her Women's Singles Silver medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, calling it a testament to her dedication and a moment of national pride.
Key Takeaways
Anahat Singh won the Silver medal in Women's Singles squash at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
BJP MP Anurag Thakur , former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, publicly congratulated Singh on September 27, 2026 .
The result is a milestone for Indian squash on the continental stage, where Egyptian and Malaysian players have historically dominated.
The Khelo India scheme, launched in 2017 , has been instrumental in identifying and funding young talent in non-cricket sports, including squash.
Thakur's congratulations carry added resonance given his direct policy role in expanding sports funding during his ministerial tenure.
A teenager with a racquet and relentless resolve just put India on the squash podium. BJP MP Anurag Thakur took to X on Sunday, September 27, 2026, to congratulate Anahat Singh on clinching the Silver medal in the Women's Singles event at the Asian Games 2026, held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Thakur's post — 'The entire nation salutes your dedication and determination to serve the people and ace in your game. Keep Winning! Jai Hind' — captured a moment of genuine national pride around a sport that rarely commands prime-time attention in India.
Anahat Singh's rise through the squash ranks
Anahat Singh is one of Indian squash's most closely watched young talents, having made her mark on the international circuit at a remarkably early age. Her Women's Singles silver at the 2026 Asian Games marks a significant milestone — both for her career and for Indian squash's visibility on the continental stage.
The sport has historically been dominated by Egyptian and Malaysian players at the Asian and world levels, making any Indian podium finish a hard-earned breakthrough worth celebrating.
Khelo India's quiet engine behind the medal
Results like Singh's do not emerge in isolation. The Khelo India scheme, launched in 2017, was designed precisely to identify and nurture talent in non-cricket disciplines — squash among them — by funding coaching, infrastructure, and competitive exposure for young athletes. Anurag Thakur, as former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, was among the key political figures associated with expanding that programme's reach during his tenure.
His congratulatory message carries added weight given that direct policy lineage — a former minister celebrating the fruit of programmes he once stewarded.
India's broader Asian Games squash push
Indian squash has steadily climbed the ranks across both individual and team events at multi-sport competitions. The 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya represent another chapter in that arc, with Singh's silver adding to a growing sense that India's investment in racquet sports beyond badminton and tennis is beginning to pay dividends. The final medal tally and any government announcements on athlete incentives post-Games will be the next markers to watch.
For now, a silver gleams — and a young champion from India's squash courts has the nation's attention.
Point of View
A sport with low mass visibility in India, also signals a maturing ecosystem of athletic talent that successive governments have quietly built. The 2026 Asian Games medal haul will likely be deployed as a policy achievement in the domestic political conversation ahead.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Anahat Singh, the squash player?
Anahat Singh is a young Indian squash player who competes in women's singles at international events. She won the Silver medal in Women's Singles at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
What did Anahat Singh win at the Asian Games 2026?
Anahat Singh won the Silver medal in the Women's Singles squash event at the Asian Games 2026 , hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
Why did Anurag Thakur congratulate Anahat Singh?
BJP MP Anurag Thakur , former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, congratulated Anahat Singh on her Silver medal at the Asian Games 2026 , saluting her dedication and determination.
What is the Khelo India scheme and how does it help squash players?
The Khelo India scheme, launched in 2017 , identifies and supports young athletes across disciplines including squash by providing funding, coaching, and competitive exposure at the national and international level.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are being hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
