A 205-strong Indian contingent has arrived in Birmingham to begin their quest for medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. While the likes of PV Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain, the women’s cricket team, Mirabai Chanu, and others will be the most likely medalists, a 14-year-old Anahat Singh will be hoping to work her magic in the Games.
The adolescent is a Grade 9 student who enjoys squash. Anahat is the youngest participant in 2022 Indian contingent at the Birmingham Games.
Anahat qualified for Birmingham by performing well in the national selection trials. Since her Under-11 days, she has been dazzling the sporting world with her exceptional talent. Anahat will make her senior debut at the Commonwealth Games, having never played at this level before, even on the national circuit.
“I was worried about being in the camp with such experienced players at first, but they were really sweet and helpful, they helped me fit right in,” Anahat told in a conversation ahead of the start of the Birmingham Games.
Started playing badminton at age of six
Anahat began playing badminton when she was six years old, alongside her sister Amira. Anahat developed an interest in squash two years later, a sport that her sister was already enjoying at Siri Fort in New Delhi. Anahat began playing squash for fun, but her outstanding performances inspired her to pursue the sport professionally.
At a tender age of 8, she started to take professional coaching and travelled all across India for competitions.
“I used to go along my sister and hit for like 15-20 minutes but nothing serious because I was mainly pursuing badminton…my sister was playing a tournament in Bengal and I went along so I entered as well. But then I started actually doing well, I started practising a lot more,” she said.
Both sisters’ efforts were rewarded. Anahat will be representing India at the Commonwealth Games, while her sister is on the squash team at Harvard.
Achievements of India’s youngest athlete
Anahat has won 46 national circuit titles, two national championships, and eight international titles in less than six years of competition. She is the first Indian athlete to win both the British Junior Squash Open (2019) and the US Junior Squash Open (2019). (2021).
The talented teenager also likes to paint, play piano during her free time. But, as far as sporting interests are concerned, she doesn’t watch anything else but squash.
