New Delhi, Nov. 9 -- When teenager Anahat Singh defeated Egypt's legendary eight-time world champion Nour El Sherbini and sixth seed Salma Hany at the Silicon Valley Open 2026 in Redwood City, California, the significance of her achievement extended beyond the squash court. For a sport that rarely commands sustained attention in India's mainstream media, Anahat's exploits triggered an unusual burst of excitement on social media. 'Instagram' reels and posts celebrated the arrival of a young star, bringing squash into conversations it seldom occupies.
The attention was striking not merely because Anahat had beaten formidable opponents, but because it offered a glimpse of what Indian squash could become if its achievements found a wider audience. For years, the sport has produced internationally competitive players yet struggled to break out of its niche following. Anahat, with her precocious talent and growing list of notable victories, may be changing that equation.
But can the rise of one teenager transform the fortunes of an entire sport? Cyrus Poncha, secretary-general of the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) and a Dronacharya Award recipient, believes the foundations are already in place. Speaking on the sidelines of national sub-junior and junior championships in Jaipur recently about Anahat's emergence, Poncha told 'Millennium Post', "The evolution of Indian squash and the road to the Olympics the present moment offers grounds for optimism."
"She is one of a kind," Poncha says of Anahat, pointing to the speed of her progress. He believes she could break into the world's top 10 while still a teenager, a milestone that would place her among the sport's leading players at an unusually young age.
For Poncha, however, Anahat's importance goes beyond rankings and tournament results. Her growing visibility has given squash something it has long lacked: a compelling young figure capable of attracting audiences beyond the sport's traditional following. Social media, particularly short videos and 'Instagram' reels, has helped bring her performances to a wider public.
The challenge now is to convert that attention into lasting interest. Viral moments can introduce a sport to new audiences, but sustained growth requires accessible facilities, a wider pool of young players, quality coaching and the resources to compete internationally.
Poncha argues that Indian squash has spent the past two decades building this foundation precisely. "We've laid a very good foundation," he says, expressing optimism about the decade ahead. Government support, corporate partnerships and institutional backing have helped strengthen the competitive structure, while organisations such as HCL, JSW and Olympic Gold Quest have contributed to the broader sporting ecosystem.
Such support is critical in a sport where talent alone is rarely enough. Players need quality coaching, physical conditioning, regular international competition and financial means to travel and train. Sustained investment can help bridge the gap between promising junior players and those capable of competing consistently against the world's best.
With squash set to make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028, India has a new target. The games will feature 16 players each in the men's and women's singles events, leaving little room for error in the race to qualify.
Poncha says the SRFI is preparing two players for the Olympic qualification campaign - one in the men's category and one in the women's. The objective is to give them the best possible chance of securing places through a carefully planned programme of training and international competition.
The limited size of the Olympic field makes the task particularly demanding. World rankings, results on the international circuit and the applicable qualification rules will be crucial. The federation must therefore identify its strongest prospects early and ensure they receive the technical support, physical preparation and exposure required to compete at the highest level.
Anahat's progress gives India an exciting prospect on the women's side, but Olympic ambitions cannot rest on one player alone. Developing competitive strength in both categories will be essential if India is to make a meaningful impression at squash's Olympic debut.
For Indian squash, Los Angeles 2028 represents more than an opportunity to participate in the games. It is a test of whether two decades of groundwork, reinforced by government and corporate support, can translate into success on the biggest sporting stage.
One of the sport's longstanding challenges has been its limited accessibility. Squash is physically demanding, requiring speed, endurance, agility and tactical intelligence. It has also traditionally been associated with private clubs and specialised facilities, restricting the number of children who can encounter the game.
Poncha believes that making squash more visible and accessible is essential to its future. India can learn from countries such as Egypt and Malaysia, where the sport has developed a strong competitive culture.
One approach is to take squash into public spaces. Glass courts installed in prominent locations and high-footfall shopping malls can make matches visible to people who might never otherwise watch the sport. Such facilities can turn squash into a spectator attraction while introducing potential players to the game.
But visibility alone will not be enough. It must be accompanied by grassroots programmes, academies and a steady supply of trained coaches. The growth of junior squash in states such as Tamil Nadu offers encouraging indications of the talent available beyond the established centres.
The long-term objective should be to widen access so that a child's opportunity to play depends less on whether the family belongs to a private club and more on the availability of affordable facilities and proper coaching.
Anahat Singh's emergence has given Indian squash a compelling new story, but the sport's future will depend on what follows her breakthrough. A wider base of junior players with sustained corporate and government support and a clear pathway from domestic competition to the international circuit will be essential.
For Poncha and the SRFI, the task is to build on the foundations established over the past two decades while preparing for the demands of Olympic competition. That means developing elite players without neglecting the grassroots, improving access without compromising the quality of training and using the attention generated by young stars to attract a new generation to the sport.
Anahat may be the most visible face of Indian squash today. Her performances have brought the sport into the social media spotlight; the greater achievement would be to turn that fleeting attention into sustained public interest and a stronger sporting culture. The Olympic challenge will test whether India can build a system capable of producing not just one exceptional player, but a generation of them.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.