CM Majhi Hails Anahat Singh's Historic Squash Silver
Synopsis
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi has lauded 18-year-old Anahat Singh for winning a silver medal in women's singles squash at the Asian Games 2026 — India's first-ever medal in the event at this stage — calling it a historic and inspiring moment for the nation.
Key Takeaways
Anahat Singh , aged 18 , won the silver medal in women's singles squash at Asian Games 2026 .
It is India's first-ever women's singles squash medal at the Asian Games.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi praised the achievement on 27 September 2026 .
CM Majhi framed the win under the #NariShakti banner, highlighting women's sporting empowerment.
The achievement is widely seen as a milestone that could inspire broader investment in women's squash infrastructure across India.
At 18 years old, Anahat Singh has done what no Indian woman had managed before her — walk away from an Asian Games squash court with a singles medal. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi celebrated the feat on Sunday, 27 September 2026, calling it 'a proud moment for the nation and a powerful inspiration for India's young sporting talent.'
India's first women's squash singles medal at the Asian Games
The Asian Games, held quadrennially, is the highest multi-sport stage for Asian nations and the closest continental equivalent to an Olympic Games. Indian squash had punched at the top of Asian competition in doubles formats before, but the women's singles podium had remained out of reach — until Anahat Singh claimed silver at Asian Games 2026. The breakthrough is not simply a personal milestone; it rewrites the record books for Indian women's squash at the continent's biggest stage.
A teenager rewriting Indian squash history
Winning a continental silver at 18 places Anahat Singh in rare company — young enough that the medal itself is as much a launch-pad as a destination. CM Majhi's message, tagged with #NariShakti, framed the achievement squarely within the wider story of women athletes reshaping India's sporting identity. The hashtag — translating broadly to 'the power of women' — has become a consistent refrain in Indian public life whenever a young sportswoman breaks through.
Why political salutes like this one carry weight
When a sitting Chief Minister amplifies an individual athlete's achievement on a major platform, it pushes that story into policy-adjacent territory. Odisha, under successive governments, has built a reputation as one of India's most serious investors in grassroots sports infrastructure — from hockey to athletics. Majhi's congratulatory post is ceremonial in form, but it signals the state's continued alignment with the national sports-promotion narrative. Whether it is followed by a formal felicitation, a cash award, or a mention in the next budget cycle is the detail worth watching.
Point of View
The shout-out reinforces Odisha's identity as a sports-friendly state at a moment when the broader BJP is keen to showcase women's empowerment wins ahead of electoral cycles. The 'first-ever' tag on Anahat Singh's medal also gives this post unusual staying power — it is not routine applause but a genuine record-book entry, which means the political association carries more durable symbolic value than a typical congratulatory message.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Anahat Singh and what did she win at Asian Games 2026?
Anahat Singh is an 18-year-old Indian squash player who won the silver medal in women's singles squash at the Asian Games 2026, becoming the first Indian woman to win a singles squash medal at the Asian Games.
Why is Anahat Singh's medal historic for India?
It is India's first-ever medal in women's singles squash at the Asian Games, a milestone that had not been achieved across any previous edition of the quadrennial continental tournament.
What did Odisha CM Mohan Majhi say about Anahat Singh?
CM Majhi posted on X calling her achievement 'a proud moment for the nation and a powerful inspiration for India's young sporting talent,' tagging the post with #NariShakti.
How old is Anahat Singh?
Anahat Singh is 18 years old at the time of her Asian Games 2026 silver medal win.
What is the significance of #NariShakti in CM Majhi's post?
#NariShakti, meaning 'the power of women,' is a widely used hashtag in Indian public discourse to celebrate women's achievements, and CM Majhi used it to highlight the broader significance of Anahat Singh's win for women in Indian sport.
