Anahat Singh stuns 8-time world champion ElSherbini at Silicon Valley Open
Synopsis
Eighteen-year-old Anahat Singh has beaten eight-time world champion Nour ElSherbini in straight games — 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 in just 30 minutes — at the Silicon Valley Open PSA Gold event. It is the biggest win of her career and the latest in a series of historic firsts for the teenager, who earlier in 2026 became the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championships and the first Indian woman to reach an Asian Games squash singles final.
Key Takeaways
Anahat Singh , 18, defeated Nour ElSherbini — world No.
3 and eight-time world champion — 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 in 30 minutes at the Silicon Valley Open on 22 October 2026 .
It is the biggest win of Anahat's career; the match was their first-ever meeting on court.
Anahat next faces Egyptian world No.
14 Salma Hany in the PSA Gold quarterfinals .
Earlier in 2026 , Anahat became the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championships girls' singles, ending Egypt's 15-year dominance .
At the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya , she became the first Indian woman to reach the squash singles final, winning silver .
Indian squash prodigy Anahat Singh produced the biggest upset of her career on 22 October 2026, defeating Egyptian eight-time world champion Nour ElSherbini in straight games to advance to the quarterfinals of the Silicon Valley Open in Redwood City, California. The world No. 15 dispatched top seed and world No. 3 ElSherbini 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 in a dominant 30-minute display at the USD 143,500 PSA Gold event.
The Upset in Numbers
At just 18 years old, Anahat did not allow ElSherbini — widely regarded as one of the greatest squash players of all time — a single game across the entire match. The clinical scoreline of 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 reflected not just composure under pressure but a game plan that was executed with surgical precision from the first rally. This was reportedly the first time the two had shared a court.
What Anahat Said
'I've grown up watching every single match of hers. I want to achieve the things that she has done in her career. She is inspiration to all squash players. Getting a chance to share a court with her was my first time. I didn't expect it to go like this. I thought I'd take a little while to settle in and understand how to play her. My game plan ended up working well,' Anahat said after the win.
A Career Built on Historic Firsts
The victory adds another milestone to an already extraordinary 2026 for Anahat. Earlier this year, she became the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championships 2026 girls' singles title, ending Egypt's 15-year stranglehold on the event. At the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, she became the first Indian woman to reach the squash singles final at the continental games, eventually settling for silver after a 3-0 (11-4, 11-4, 11-7) defeat to defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam of Malaysia.
Her Asian Games journey has been one of steady progression — at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, she claimed two bronze medals, in the women's team and mixed doubles events, before upgrading to silver at the 2026 edition.
What's Next for Anahat
Anahat will face Egyptian world No. 14 Salma Hany in the quarterfinals of the Silicon Valley Open. A victory there would push her into the final four of a PSA Gold event — yet another territory uncharted by an Indian squash player at her age. The trajectory she is on suggests this upset, stunning as it is, may prove to be a stepping stone rather than a summit.
Point of View
Meaning she has beaten progressively higher-ranked opposition all year. The worry for Indian sport is whether the ecosystem — coaching, tournament access, sponsorship — can scale fast enough to match her trajectory. ElSherbini-level wins at 18 can be wasted without the right structural support around them.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Anahat Singh and what is her world ranking?
Anahat Singh is an 18-year-old Indian squash player currently ranked world No. 15 on the PSA Women's World Tour. She has become one of India's most decorated junior and senior squash players in 2026, winning the World Junior Squash Championships and a silver medal at the Asian Games.
How did Anahat Singh beat Nour ElSherbini at the Silicon Valley Open?
Anahat defeated ElSherbini 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 in straight games in just 30 minutes in the second round of the Silicon Valley Open PSA Gold event on 22 October 2026 in Redwood City. It was reportedly the first time the two players had faced each other on court.
Who will Anahat Singh play in the Silicon Valley Open quarterfinals?
Anahat will face Egyptian world No. 14 Salma Hany in the quarterfinals of the USD 143,500 PSA Gold event.
What other historic achievements has Anahat Singh recorded in 2026?
In 2026, Anahat became the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championships girls' singles title, ending Egypt's 15-year reign. She also won a silver medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, becoming the first Indian woman to reach a squash singles final at the continental games.
What is Nour ElSherbini's record in world championships?
Nour ElSherbini of Egypt is an eight-time world champion and was seeded No. 1 at the Silicon Valley Open, where she holds a world ranking of No. 3 at the time of the tournament.
