Anahat Singh reached the London Squash Classic quarterfinals after defeating eighth seed Nele Gilis 13-11, 4-11, 11-8. The Indian world No.20 will face 2024 champion Sivasangari Subramaniam next in a crucial clash ahead of the Asian Games.
Indian squash star Anahat Singh produced a memorable performance at the London Squash Classic on Thursday, defeating Belgian world No.11 and eighth seed Nele Gilis 2-1 to storm into the quarterfinals of the USD 144,000 PSA Gold event.
The 18-year-old reigning world junior champion secured a thrilling 13-11, 4-11, 11-8 victory over Gilis in 39 minutes at Alexandra Palace, popularly known as Ally Pally. The result marked Anahat’s first win over Gilis on the PSA Tour and further underlined her rapid rise on the international squash circuit.
Anahat’s quarterfinal appearance is particularly significant as she has become the first Indian woman since 2021 to reach the quarterfinals of a PSA Gold-level tournament. Her victory also came against a formidable opponent who had reached the London Classic final last year.
The match featured several high-intensity rallies as both players fought for control from the opening point. Anahat narrowly edged the opening game 13-11 after a closely contested battle. Gilis responded strongly in the second game, winning 11-4 to level the contest and put pressure back on the young Indian.
However, Anahat maintained her composure in the deciding game. She effectively kept Gilis towards the back of the court, controlled the crucial central area around the ‘T’ and used accurate shots into the front corners to disrupt her opponent’s rhythm. Her tactical execution eventually earned her an 11-8 win and a place in the last eight.
Reflecting on the match, Anahat acknowledged the quality of her opponent and the experience she gained from facing Gilis previously.
“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,” Anahat said.
The Indian also expressed her excitement about playing at Alexandra Palace, a venue she had admired before getting the opportunity to compete there.
“It’s always been my dream to play in a venue like this, so it’s very exciting,” she said.
Anahat also admitted that she does not particularly favour the best-of-three format, which requires players to maintain a high level of concentration throughout the shorter contest.
“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,” she said.
Her next challenge will be another major test, as she faces Sivasangari Subramaniam in the quarterfinals. The Malaysian, who won the London Classic in 2024, defeated Nardine Garas in the second round with two dominant 11-5 games.
Sivasangari famously captured the biggest title of her career at this venue two years ago after defeating several elite opponents, including then-world No.1 Hania El Hammamy, eight-time world champion Nour ElSherbini and Nele Gilis.
The upcoming Anahat-Sivasangari contest could also provide an early indication of the competitive picture ahead of next month’s Asian Games, where squash will play an important role in determining the sport’s first Olympians.
In the men’s first round, India’s Ramit Tandon, ranked world No.42, advanced after defeating Qatar’s Abdullah Al-Tamimi 11-6, 11-7. However, world No.38 Veer Chotrani bowed out after losing 9-11, 9-11 to higher-ranked Swiss player Yannick Wilhelmi.
Elsewhere in the tournament, second seed Victor Crouin advanced to the quarterfinals after an emphatic performance, conceding just four points. The Frenchman displayed impressive power and control at Alexandra Palace and will next face seventh seed Leonel Cardenas.
| Also Read: Mandhana smashes 124 as India thrash Hong Kong-China by 137 runs |
With Anahat Singh now through to the last eight, Indian squash fans will be closely following her quarterfinal battle against Sivasangari. The young Indian’s victory over a top-15 opponent has already added another major milestone to her emerging career, while her next match presents an opportunity to make an even deeper impact at the London Squash Classic.
