NEW DELHI: Anahat Singh, just 17, is learning how to turn big moments into routine. On Sunday in Washington, she delivered the biggest result of her young career with the composure of someone who seems to know exactly where she’s headed. Anahat stunned top seed, reigning Commonwealth Games champion and World No.10 Georgina Kennedy of England 12-10, 11-5, 11-7 in a fast-paced 26-minute final to win her first PSA bronze title at the Squash On Fire Open.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!The win was her 15th PSA Tour title overall, achieved in just 26 tournaments, and also made her the youngest Asian player to break into the top 20 of the world rankings.What stood out was not just the score, but the way Anahat controlled the contest. She trailed 8-10 in the opening game but reeled off four straight points to win it, setting the tone for the rest of the match. The seventh seed had lost to Kennedy in their only previous meeting and showed composure well beyond her years, rarely allowing a higher-ranked opponent to match.“I am extremely happy,” Anahat said after the final. “Coming into this event, I played the British Junior Open a few weeks ago and I didn’t play very well. I knew I had some time to practice between these events and I did what I could to get the best out of my game,” she added.According to her, the result was part of a clear plan. “I knew I wanted to do well at these events, get up there and perform as well, and I’m glad I did that this time.”The title adds to a rapidly growing list of achievements. Anahat was part of the Indian team that won the historic World Squash Cup title in Chennai last year. Earlier this season, she reached the semifinals of the Canadian Women’s Open, a PSA Silver tournament, signaling that she is ready to consistently challenge the top players.Those around her had long believed that this rise was inevitable. “When I met her, she was 13 years old and already one of the candidates to win the national title. She is like a child prodigy,” said her coach Stephane Galifi. “We want her to be in the top 10 at the world level as soon as possible.” Galifi believes that its advantages are already evident.“She is very gifted. She learns very quickly, very mature for her age. She has everything, the whole package. She can cover the court very well, read the game very well. Some players mature when they are 25:26. She is like a sponge, she learns and absorbs everything quickly,” said the Italian.But there is still work to be done. “He needs to play more events outside India, have a different training session with better players. He needs to improve his fitness a bit because at the highest level all the players are extremely fit,” he said.For now, Anahata’s breakthrough in Washington doesn’t feel like a surprise, but rather the next logical step for a teenager who keeps turning promise into performance.
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