Bihar Squash

बांकीपुर क्लब पटना में आयोजित की गई बिहार राज्य क्लोज्ड स्क्वाश चैंपियनशिप के पुरस्कार वितरण समारोह का दृश्य

पटना के बांकीपुर क्लब में आयोजित की गई 6वो बिहार राज्य क्लोज़ स्क्वाश चैंपियनशिप के पुरस्कार वितरण समारोह से संबंधित फोटोग्राफ ।

JOSHNA BACKS ANAHAT AS INDIAN SQUASH LOOKS TO LA 2028 OLYMPICS WITH PROMISE

The two-time Asian champion said that she believes teenage prodigy Anahat Singh has the temperament to shine on the biggest stages.

Joshna Chinappa has spent more than two decades at the top level in international squash - long enough to recognise elite potential before it announces itself. In Anahat Singh, Joshna sees India’s Olympic future taking shape.

“Having spent years at the highest level, you learn to identify who belongs there,” Chinappa said
“You sense it early - the composure, the confidence, the way she controls matches.”

That conviction has only deepened after Chinappa and Anahat guided a young Indian team to a historic maiden gold medal at the Squash World Cup in Chennai in December.

For Joshna, a two-time Asian champion and a former world No. 10, the result confirmed what she had been seeing for some time and her belief that India has a great shot at medals at the LA 2028 Olympics.

“She has all the makings of India’s top squash player,” Chinappa said. “The team (at the Squash World Cup) was inexperienced but fearless. Anahat stood out because she already thinks like a winner.”

At just 17, Singh’s mental clarity is what separates her, Chinappa pointed out. Anahat’s ability to stay calm under pressure, her willingness to take brave decisions and her refusal to panic - qualities, Joshna believes, that are difficult to teach.

“When I watch her, I see parts of my own early journey,” said Chinappa, who became India’s youngest national champion at 14. “I understand what it means to grow up quickly in this sport.”

That familiarity convinces her that Anahat is built for longevity rather than a brief surge. The changing of the guard, in many ways, has already played out on court.

Singh has beaten Chinappa three times this year - results the veteran accepts with perspective.

“That’s how the sport moves forward,” Chinappa said. “The next generation has to challenge the present.”

“If she continues on this path, I would genuinely be happy to see her win an Olympic medal for India,” Chinappa said. “It’s a medal our country has been waiting for, and she has the temperament for that stage.”

Chinappa herself remains part of that Olympic picture. LA 2028 represents unfinished business - the one medal her cabinet still lacks. Before that, her immediate focus is on an Asian Games gold at Aichi-Nagoya in 2026.

“If given the chance, I would still love to be part of the Indian team at LA 2028,” Joshna said. “As long as I’m competing, I want to compete with purpose…my immediate dream is an Asian Games gold.”

When Chinappa looks at Anahat, she sees more than promise. “I don’t just see a rival or a young player. I see a champion forming - someone who will take Indian squash forward.”

Coming from someone who has carried the sport for decades, it is not just praise but a passing of belief from one champion to another.

Perfect for players who want to add control and consistency to their game. The online course starts 13 January with Victor Crouin and Lee Drew.

☑️ Weekly training sessions via the SquashSkills Training app
☑️ Direct contact with coaches on WhatsApp and Zoom
☑️ Keep all the materials once the course is finished

Last couple of spaces left: https://tinyurl.com/STC-Jan26