Anahat Singh Stuns Eight-Time World Champion Nour El Sherbini at Silicon Valley Open 2026
Indian squash player Anahat Singh delivered a landmark performance at the Silicon Valley Open 2026 by defeating Egypt's eight-time world champion Nour El Sherbini in straight games. The 18-year-old Indian won 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 in a 30-minute second-round match in Redwood City, California, to qualify for the women's singles quarter-finals.
The victory marked a significant milestone in Anahat's senior international career. She defeated the tournament's top seed and a player widely recognised as one of the most accomplished competitors in women's squash. The result also demonstrated the Indian teenager's ability to compete against established international stars on the Professional Squash Association tour.
Anahat Controls the Match in Three Games
Anahat began the contest with an attacking approach and secured the opening game 11-8. She maintained her composure in the second game, again winning 11-8 to move within one game of victory.
With the match on the line, the Indian continued to apply pressure and avoided allowing Sherbini to force a comeback. Anahat won the third game 11-7, completing a straight-games victory in just half an hour.
The scoreline reflected a composed performance against an opponent with extensive experience at the highest level of the sport. Sherbini, an Egyptian squash star, has won eight world championship titles and has spent several years among the leading players in the women's game.
Anahat's win was particularly notable because she entered the match against the tournament's top seed and world No. 3. The Indian player, ranked No. 15 at the time of the event, showed that she could match a higher-ranked opponent through disciplined shot selection and consistent execution.
Anahat Reveals Her Admiration for Sherbini
Following the match, Anahat spoke about the personal significance of defeating a player she had admired for years. She revealed that she had grown up watching Sherbini's matches and considered the Egyptian a source of inspiration for squash players.
Anahat said she admired Sherbini and hoped to achieve similar success during her own career. She also explained that she had not expected her first match against the Egyptian champion to unfold so favourably.
The Indian player said she had anticipated needing time to settle into the contest and understand how to play against Sherbini. However, she felt that her game plan worked well and helped her maintain control throughout the encounter.
The result carried added significance because Anahat was facing one of the sport's most decorated players for the first time. Turning admiration into a competitive victory was an important moment for the young Indian, who continues to build her reputation on the international circuit.
A Major Achievement on the PSA Tour
The Silicon Valley Open is a Professional Squash Association Gold-level tournament held in Redwood City, California. It attracts leading players from different countries and offers competitors an opportunity to earn valuable ranking points and prize money.
Anahat's victory over Sherbini was described by tournament coverage as the biggest win of her career at that stage. Defeating a player of Sherbini's standing can provide a significant confidence boost, particularly for a young athlete seeking to establish herself among the world's leading competitors.
However, progression in a tournament depends on maintaining performance across successive rounds. Anahat would need to carry the same level of concentration into the quarter-finals, where she was scheduled to face another Egyptian player, Salma Hany.
Hany represented another demanding challenge, making Anahat's next match important for her bid to reach the semi-finals. The Indian would need to continue combining accurate placement, movement and tactical discipline to progress further.
Anahat Builds on Her Asian Games Success
The Silicon Valley Open result followed an impressive campaign for Anahat at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. She won silver in the women's singles squash event, becoming the first Indian woman to secure an Asian Games medal in women's singles squash.
She also contributed to India's bronze-medal finish in the women's team competition. These results strengthened her position among India's leading squash players and provided valuable experience against international opposition.
Her Asian Games performance and subsequent victory over Sherbini highlighted her progress across different levels of competition. While the Asian Games tested her ability to perform in a major multi-sport event, the Silicon Valley Open provided an opportunity to challenge established players on the professional circuit.
Significance for Indian Squash
Anahat's performance is another encouraging development for Indian squash. Success against a world champion can increase the sport's visibility and demonstrate the potential of emerging Indian players to compete with established international names.
At 18, Anahat still has opportunities to gain experience, improve her world ranking and build consistency against elite opponents. Her victory in California showed the value of preparation, tactical clarity and confidence when facing a highly accomplished rival.
The match also illustrated that rankings and past achievements do not guarantee a particular result. Sherbini's record made her a formidable opponent, but Anahat's execution across all three games proved decisive on the day.
With her place in the quarter-finals secured, Anahat turned her attention to the next stage of the tournament. Her straight-games victory over Sherbini stands as a notable achievement in her developing career and an important moment for Indian squash on the international stage.
