London, September 3 (Daily Kiran) : In an exciting match at the London Squash Classic, Anahat Singh, the world number 20, triumphed over Belgium’s world number 11, Nele Gilis, with a score of 2-1. This victory, achieved on September 3, 2026, propelled Anahat into the quarterfinals of the prestigious tournament.
The reigning world junior champion faced eighth-seeded Gilis in the second round of the PSA Gold event, which boasts a prize pool of $144,000. Anahat secured the win with game scores of 13-11, 4-11, and 11-8 after a competitive 39-minute encounter, marking their first meeting on tour.
At just 18 years old, Anahat has made history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the quarterfinals of a PSA Gold-level tournament since 2021. Her impressive performance against Gilis, who reached the finals of the London Classic last year, showcased her skill and determination.
The audience at ‘Ali Pali’ witnessed several thrilling rallies. Anahat initially claimed the first game, but Gilis fought back fiercely. However, Anahat maintained her composure, keeping her opponent at the back of the court and asserting her dominance at the ‘T’ (the center of the court). She executed precise shots from the front corners, leading to her victory. In the next round, Anahat will face Shivangari Subramaniam, the winner of the 2024 tournament, who defeated Nardine Garas.
Shivangari, a Malaysian player, had previously won her biggest title at this venue two years ago, defeating world number one Hania El Hammamy, eight-time world champion Nour El Sherbini, and Nele Gilis along the way. With two wins under her belt, she is expected to perform well in this tournament.
The upcoming match between Anahat Singh and Shivangari Subramaniam could be a precursor to the Asian Games next month, where the first Olympians in squash will be determined.
In the men’s first round, world number 42 Ramit Tandon defeated Qatar’s Abdullah Al-Tamimi with a score of 11-6, 11-7. Meanwhile, world number 38 Veer Chotrani faced a setback against Switzerland’s higher-ranked Yannick Wilhelmi, losing 9-11, 9-11.
In other round two matches on Thursday, second seed Victor Croin advanced to the quarterfinals, conceding only four points. The French player demonstrated both strength and control, dominating the play at Ali Pali. Croin’s next opponent will be seventh seed Lionel Cardenas.
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