Indian squash player Anahat Singh, ranked World No. 20 on the PSA women's tour at just 18 years old, has set her sights firmly on winning an Olympic medal for India at the Los Angeles 2028 Games — squash's debut appearance at the Olympics. The New Delhi-based prodigy says the inclusion of squash in LA28 has energised the entire sport and is shaping her long-term preparation.

The Olympic Dream

'It's every athlete's dream. Everyone was really excited when squash was included and has been working towards it. Hopefully, I'll be at my peak by the time the Olympics happen and will get a medal for India,' Singh told Olympics.com. With three years to go before the Games, Singh is building her ranking and match experience against senior competition on the PSA Tour.

A Prodigy Who Plays Without Fear

Despite regularly facing far more experienced opponents since she was 15, Singh says nerves have never been a significant factor. 'I've just been like that from the beginning. I don't really get that nervous before my matches, even when I play more experienced opponents,' she said. She attributes this composure partly to her age and perspective: 'I feel like my age helps, as I don't have much to lose on the court. I'm learning so much with every match and every point. I'm really grateful for the experience, so there's nothing to be nervous about!'

A Record-Breaking Rise

Singh's ascent has been marked by a string of firsts. In 2019, she became the first Indian to win the girls' Under-11 title at the British Open. In 2021, she became the first Indian woman to win a US Open junior title in any age group. By 2023, she had claimed bronze medals in both the women's team and mixed doubles events at the Asian Games, while also becoming the second-youngest Indian national champion at 15. More recently, she added the British Junior Open Under-17 title and multiple PSA Challenger crowns to her growing list of honours.

The Badminton Foundation and the Sindhu Connection

Interestingly, Singh credits a badminton background for giving her an early edge in squash. 'A badminton background definitely helps if you're a beginner due to hand-eye coordination. Initially in squash, I was beating everyone because my volleys were really good, and I think a lot of that came from badminton,' she explained. Her admiration for Indian badminton star PV Sindhu led to a personal milestone of its own: 'I actually spoke to her one-on-one in a video call because I was a huge fan, and my parents figured out a way I could talk to her. That was such a cool moment.'

Squash in India: Progress and Challenges

Singh is candid about the structural hurdles facing Indian squash. 'India's top players are still developing. Without consistent success in major tournaments, squash doesn't yet carry the same weight as some other sports,' she acknowledged. However, she points to a positive shift: 'Things are changing. We've started winning more medals at the Asian Games and performing better on the PSA Tour, and that's definitely helping. It's a long road, but we're getting there.' She also highlighted infrastructure gaps — one of her coaches is based in Mumbai, and she trains with players from Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai — while expressing confidence that conditions will improve significantly over the next few years. As LA28 approaches, Singh's trajectory suggests Indian squash may finally have the standard-bearer it has long been waiting for.