India's Anahat Singh stuns eight-time world champion Nour El Sherbini at US squash tournament

Eighteen-year-old Indian squash player Anahat Singh produced the biggest win of her career after she defeated Egypt’s eight-time world champion and world No. 3 Nour ElSherbini 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 in just 30 minutes at the Silicon Valley Open in Redwood City, California.⁠

The straight-games victory over the top-seeded Egyptian propelled the world No. 15 Anahat (rankings around the top 15-17) into the quarter-finals of the USD 143,500 PSA Gold-level event and marked a major statement on the professional circuit. It was the first meeting between the two players.

A Masterclass In Fearlessness

Facing an eight-time World Champion and current World No. 3 who has dominated the women’s tour for nearly a decade, Anahat showed neither deference nor hesitation.

From the opening rallies, the teenager took the game directly to El Sherbini, retrieving tenaciously and capitalizing on short balls with crisp, deceptive dying lengths.  

El Sherbini struggled to impose her trademark aggressive length onto the match, as Singh’s sharp court coverage repeatedly forced errors from the Egyptian legend. After closing out the first game 11-8, Singh held her nerve in the second, absorbing El Sherbini’s attempted counter-punch to double her advantage.

In the third game, where many young challengers might falter under the gravity of the occasion, Singh remained relentlessly focused. She pulled away in the final exchanges, sealing an emphatic straight-games sweep that sent shockwaves through the squash world.

Anahat Reacts After Her Win Over

Speaking after the match, Anahat Singh reflected on the personal significance of the result against a player she has long admired:

"Going into the match, the national coach of India was telling me that I definitely do have a shot if I was playing really, really well. Just getting to share a court with her - it was my first time - I didn't expect it to go like this", said Anahat.

"I thought I'll take a little while to settle in and understand how to play her. But the game plan ended up working pretty well and I just stuck through it. I still can't believe that it ended up on my side of the court," she added.

The Indian squash player also revealed she had grown up looking up to El Sherbini.

“I've grown up watching every single match of hers. I admire her and want to achieve the things she has done in her career. She is an inspiration to all squash players," said Anahat.

A Historic Milestone For Indian Squash

This victory marks the biggest single match triumph of Singh’s burgeoning career. Having already earned continental honors and entered the world's top 15, taking down an eight-time world champion in straight games firmly establishes her as a headline contender on the global stage.  

Singh advanced to the quarterfinals, where she will face Egypt’s World No. 14 Salma Hany.

Whether or not she goes all the way in Redwood City, this 30-minute clinic will go down as a defining breakout moment in world squash.