Anahat Singh has delivered one of the biggest victories of her professional squash career at the 2026 Silicon Valley Open in Redwood City, California. The 18-year-old Indian defeated eight-time world champion Nour El Sherbini in straight games before overcoming Egypt’s Salma Hany to reach her first Professional Squash Association (PSA) Gold-level semifinal.
The breakthrough has attracted international attention because Singh, ranked world No. 15, defeated the tournament’s top seed and world No. 3. According to The Indian Express, Singh won the Round of 16 match 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 in approximately 30 minutes.
Anahat Singh Delivers a Stunning Upset
El Sherbini entered the tournament as one of squash’s most decorated champions. However, Singh combined aggressive shot-making with composure to prevent the Egyptian star from controlling the rallies.
Singh’s victory was particularly meaningful because she had admired El Sherbini throughout her development. In post-match comments reported by The Times of India, the young Indian described the result as a major personal milestone.
The win also demonstrated her ability to challenge established champions on the senior professional circuit. The official Silicon Valley Open website lists the competition as a PSA Gold-level event featuring leading international players and equal prize money for the men’s and women’s fields.
Another Comeback Secures a Historic Semifinal
Singh continued her impressive run by defeating sixth-seeded Salma Hany in a demanding quarterfinal. After losing the first game 4-11, she recovered to win the second 11-8. Hany responded with an 11-4 third-game victory, leaving Singh trailing two games to one.
The Indian then changed the momentum decisively, winning the fourth game 11-2 and the decider 11-5. The 42-minute victory secured her maiden semifinal appearance at PSA Gold level, according to The New Indian Express.
Hindustan Times reported that Singh credited her confidence after beating El Sherbini for helping her approach the next match with belief.
A Major Test Before Squash’s Olympic Debut
Singh’s semifinal opponent is Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam, the world No. 4 and reigning Asian Games champion. The matchup offers Singh another opportunity to test herself against an established elite player after losing their recent Asian Games final.
The tournament’s live draw and results list the semifinal for October 23. The event also offers a glimpse of squash’s growing international profile ahead of its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.
Coverage from ThePrint highlights the significance of Singh’s achievement. Her victories do not guarantee future titles, but they show that she can compete with some of the strongest players in the sport.
For Indian squash, Singh’s California campaign represents a promising step forward. Her next challenge is to turn this momentum into another landmark result against one of the tour’s leading contenders.
#AnahatSingh #SiliconValleyOpen #Squash #PSASquash #IndianSports #NourElSherbini #SportsNews #WomenInSports #LA28