Anahat Singh Rallies From 2-1 Down to Reach Maiden PSA Gold Semifinal, Sets Up Malaysian Test

Indian squash sensation Anahat Singh continued her remarkable run at the Silicon Valley Open in Redwood City, USA, storming into her maiden PSA Gold-level semifinal with a thrilling five-game victory over Egypt’s Salma Hany on Friday.

The 18-year-old world No. 15 defeated the sixth-seeded Hany, ranked 14th in the world, 4-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2, 11-5 in a 42-minute quarterfinal, recovering from a game down twice to seal an impressive victory.

The win came a day after Anahat produced one of the biggest performances of her young career, defeating Egyptian world No. 3 and eight-time world champion Nour ElSherbini in straight games. Building on that confidence, the reigning world junior champion showed remarkable composure and fighting spirit to overcome another experienced Egyptian opponent.

Anahat admitted that she had never faced Hany before and was unsure what to expect, having watched the Egyptian compete on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour.

She said her victory over ElSherbini had strengthened her belief that she could challenge any opponent when playing at her best. That confidence proved crucial as she fought back from a 2-1 deficit, dominating the fourth and fifth games to complete the turnaround.

The Delhi-born player also acknowledged that the emotional high of her stunning win over ElSherbini had left her feeling tired. However, determined not to lose momentum, she pushed through the challenge to secure a place in the last four.

Anahat will next face Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam, the world No. 4 and reigning Asian Games champion, for a place in the final. The upcoming clash will provide another major test for the Indian teenager as she looks to extend her breakthrough campaign against one of the sport’s leading players.

Anahat, who recently won women’s singles silver at the Asian Games, has emerged as one of India’s brightest squash prospects. Her run in California marks another significant milestone in her rise on the international circuit, with the young star now just one victory away from reaching a prestigious PSA Gold-level final.