Anahat Singh reaches London Squash Classic quarters, faces Sivasangari next
Synopsis
Eighteen-year-old Anahat Singh has become the first Indian woman since 2021 to reach the quarterfinals of a PSA Gold squash event, upsetting eighth seed Nele Gilis in London. Her next opponent is 2024 champion Sivasangari Subramaniam — and with the Asian Games and Olympic qualification around the corner, the stakes could not be higher.
Key Takeaways
Anahat Singh defeated world No.
11 Nele Gilis 13-11, 4-11, 11-8 in 39 minutes to reach the London Squash Classic quarterfinals.
She is the first Indian woman since 2021 to reach the quarterfinals of a PSA Gold -level tournament.
The event carries a prize purse of USD 144,000 and is held at Alexandra Palace, London .
Anahat faces 2024 champion Sivasangari Subramaniam of Malaysia in the quarterfinals.
Ramit Tandon (world No.
42 ) won his men's first-round match; Veer Chotrani (world No.
38 ) was eliminated.
The Anahat-Sivasangari clash is seen as a preview of the upcoming Asian Games , where squash's first Olympic qualifiers will be decided.
World No. 20 Anahat Singh stormed into the quarterfinals of the London Squash Classic on Thursday, defeating Belgian world No. 11 Nele Gilis 13-11, 4-11, 11-8 in a tightly contested 39-minute second-round clash at the USD 144,000 PSA Gold event. The 18-year-old Indian becomes the first Indian woman since 2021 to reach the quarterfinals of a PSA Gold-level tournament.
A Historic Win at Ally Pally
The match — their first-ever meeting on the PSA tour — saw Anahat edge a tense opening game before eighth seed Gilis levelled proceedings with a dominant second. The Indian regrouped decisively in the decider, pinning her Belgian opponent deep in the court, controlling the 'T', and finishing cleanly in the front corners to seal the upset. Gilis, notably, had reached the final of this very tournament last year, making the victory all the more significant.
The crowd at Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally) witnessed a string of high-octane rallies before Anahat closed out the match.
What Anahat Said
Speaking after her win, Anahat acknowledged the experience she had drawn from a prior encounter with Gilis. 'She's a great player. I played her a year and a half ago at the World Teams, and that match really helped me get experience for the PSA circuit. It's always been my dream to play in a venue like this, so it's very exciting,' she said.
On the best-of-three format, Anahat was candid: 'I honestly don't love it. You can't really prepare for it, but I had to be more focused than I would be in a best of five match.'
Quarterfinal Clash: Anahat vs Sivasangari
Waiting in the quarterfinals is Sivasangari Subramaniam of Malaysia, the 2024 London Classic champion. Sivasangari advanced with a pair of commanding 11-5 wins and has a remarkable record at this venue — two years ago she memorably defeated World No. 1 Hania El Hammamy, eight-time World Champion Nour ElSherbini, and Gilis herself en route to the title.
The Anahat-Sivasangari contest carries added weight as a potential preview of the Asian Games next month, where squash's first Olympic qualifiers are set to be decided.
Indian Men's Round-Up
In the men's draw, world No. 42 Ramit Tandon won his first-round match against Qatar's Abdullah Al-Tamimi 11-6, 11-7. World No. 38 Veer Chotrani, however, exited after a 9-11, 9-11 defeat to Switzerland's higher-ranked Yannick Wilhelmi.
In the men's second round, No. 2 seed Victor Crouin of France powered into the quarterfinals conceding just four points, and will next face No. 7 seed Leonel Cardenas.
With the Asian Games looming and Olympic spots on the line, Anahat's run at the London Squash Classic could not have come at a more consequential moment for Indian squash.
Point of View
On her first-ever tour meeting with her, at a marquee venue, signals that Indian women's squash has a genuine global contender. The real test comes against Sivasangari, a proven champion at this very venue. But the larger context is the Asian Games: with Olympic qualification at stake, this quarterfinal doubles as a high-stakes audition. Indian squash has long promised a breakthrough; Anahat may be the one who delivers it.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Anahat Singh and why is her London Squash Classic run significant?
Anahat Singh is an 18-year-old Indian squash player and reigning world junior champion, currently ranked world No. 20. Her quarterfinal berth at the London Squash Classic makes her the first Indian woman since 2021 to reach the last eight of a PSA Gold-level event.
What was the score in Anahat Singh's win over Nele Gilis?
Anahat defeated Belgian world No. 11 Nele Gilis 13-11, 4-11, 11-8 in 39 minutes in the second round of the USD 144,000 PSA Gold event on Thursday. It was their first meeting on the PSA tour.
Who does Anahat Singh face in the quarterfinals?
Anahat will face Malaysian player Sivasangari Subramaniam, the 2024 London Classic champion, in the quarterfinals. Sivasangari advanced with back-to-back 11-5 wins and is a strong contender to go deep into the tournament again.
Why does the Anahat-Sivasangari match matter beyond the tournament?
The quarterfinal clash is seen as a preview of the Asian Games next month, where squash's first Olympic qualifiers will be decided. Both players are expected to be key contenders, making this encounter a significant form guide ahead of that event.
How did Indian men's players perform at the London Squash Classic?
World No. 42 Ramit Tandon won his first-round match against Qatar's Abdullah Al-Tamimi 11-6, 11-7. World No. 38 Veer Chotrani was eliminated, losing 9-11, 9-11 to Switzerland's Yannick Wilhelmi.
