Abhay and Anahat Shine at Asian Squash 2025 Awards
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Chennai, March 31 (NationPress) Indian squash player Abhay Singh has been awarded the title of Men’s Player of the Year 2025 by the Asian Squash Federation, while the talented young athlete Anahat Singh has claimed the top honor in the girls’ junior division.
The Indian men's squash team was also celebrated, receiving the Team of the Year award after achieving a bronze medal finish at the World Junior Team Championships 2025 held in Egypt, according to the official announcement from the ASF.
Currently positioned as World No. 25, Abhay boasts an impressive track record with numerous medals from the Asian Games and championships at the Asian Squash Championships. He was also a key member of the Indian team that won the nation's inaugural World Cup mixed team title last year.
Anahat, who holds the World No. 20 ranking, has also made her mark on the global stage, securing medals at the Asian Games and Asian Championships. In 2025, she achieved a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in Cairo and played a pivotal role in India’s gold medal-winning mixed team World Cup campaign.
The last instance of Indian players receiving accolades from the ASF was in 2022, when former India No. 1 Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa clinched the men’s and women’s top awards respectively.
Earlier this month, both Abhay and Anahat triumphed at the Indian Open 2026, winning the men’s and women’s titles, respectively. The men’s final was a fierce competition between Indian players, with second-seeded Abhay defeating his fourth-seeded compatriot Veer Chotrani in a decisive 3-0 victory (11-9, 11-8, 11-4). Meanwhile, young Anahat showcased her skills against Egypt’s Hana Moataz, winning 3-1 (11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6) in the women’s final.
Abhay delivered an outstanding performance in the men’s final, overcoming a formidable challenge from Chotrani. The initial two games were tightly contested, with Abhay edging them out 11-9 and 11-8. He elevated his game in the third, utilizing sharp angles and powerful strokes to secure an easy 11-4 victory, thus claiming the title.
In the women’s final, Anahat dominated the match against Hana Moataz with a stunning performance. She convincingly won the first two games (11-5, 11-6) through her speed and clever tactics. Although Hana mounted a comeback to win the third game 11-9, Anahat regained her composure and clinched the championship by winning the fourth game 11-6.