Key Points
- World junior champion and India’s rising star in squash Anahat Singh reached the second round of the London Squash Classic.
- Anahat Singh played a brilliant game and defeated Egyptian player Mariam Metwally by 11-3, 11-2 in straight games.
- The tournament is one of the most prestigious USD 144,000 PSA Gold tournaments taking place in London.
- In the men’s category, India’s Ramit Tandon emerged as a winner in his first-round match against Qatar’s Abdullah Al-Tamimi with the score of 11-6, 11-7.
- Indian player Veer Chotrani lost against Swiss player Yannick Wilhelmi with identical game scores of 9-11, 9-11.
London (The Londoner News) September 2, 2026 – Indian squash sensation Anahat Singh opened her campaign at the USD 144,000 London Squash Classic in sparkling fashion on Tuesday, dismantling Egypt’s Mariam Metwally in straight games to storm into the second round of the PSA Gold event.
How Did Anahat Singh Secure Her Opening Win At The London Squash Classic?
As reported by Press Trust of India (PTI) and highlighted by The Tribune and Rediff.com, the 18-year-old world No. 20 Anahat eased past her Egyptian opponent with an absolute masterclass, recording a comprehensive 11-3, 11-2 victory in her opening match.
Detailing the match dynamics, Times Now sports writer Rishav Narang noted that Anahat continued her stellar “purple patch” on the international circuit. The teenager has maintained impressive form over the past two seasons, a run highlighted by historic milestones. In July of this year, Anahat etched her name in record books by becoming the first-ever Indian to claim the junior world title, defeating Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem 3-0. Furthermore, she secured a prestigious bronze medal at the 2025 World Junior Championships.
Reflecting on her transition to senior-level events and her ongoing physical development, Anahat shared insights in an interview with Sports Now following her junior world championship triumph. As documented by Times Now, Anahat stated that:
“There’s always something to work on, but mainly it’s my physicality and being able to maintain a good level throughout a long match against senior players. I also need to get better at converting close games into wins and being able to win tournaments consistently.”
She further elaborated on the stark differences in intensity between junior and senior circuits, explaining:
“In juniors, the intensity isn’t as high, so maybe I can play really well for one or two games at most. But being able to do that consistently throughout the whole match is something I need to improve. Being able to do that over and over again is something I really need to work on. I think as I start playing more senior events, that will come naturally.”
Who Will Anahat Singh Face Next In The Tournament?
According to reporting by Times Now, Anahat Singh will face a tough test in the second round. She is scheduled to square off against eighth-seeded Nele Gilis of Belgium.
Media sources point out that this upcoming fixture will mark the first-ever professional encounter between Anahat Singh and Nele Gilis, setting the stage for an intriguing battle as the young Indian challenger attempts to break deeper into the higher echelons of the PSA Gold draw.
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How Did Other Indian Contenders Perform In The First Round?
While Anahat celebrated a resounding victory, the broader Indian contingent experienced mixed fortunes across the men’s and women’s draws at the London venue.
As detailed by the PTI reports published on Rediff.com and The Tribune, experienced Indian male competitor Ramit Tandon—ranked world No. 42—produced a stellar performance to match Anahat’s momentum. Tandon got the better of Qatar’s Abdullah Al-Tamimi, carving out a convincing 11-6, 11-7 win in straight games.
Times Now provided additional head-to-head context on Tandon’s victory, noting that prior to this encounter, Tandon had been trailing 1-2 against Al-Tamimi. With this latest win, both players now stand even with two victories apiece against each other.
Looking ahead to the next phase of the men’s competition, Times Now reported that Tandon’s path does not get any easier. As stated by the publication, Tandon will next face England’s seasoned campaigner Mohamed ElShorbagy. ElShorbagy, currently ranked world No. 15, holds a historical 3-0 head-to-head lead over the Indian player.
Who Suffered A Reversal Among The Indian Contingent?
Not all news from the opening rounds favoured the Indian camp. As documented in the syndicated PTI sports feeds carried by Rediff.com, world No. 38 Veer Chotrani faced a disappointing exit from the tournament.
Chotrani went down fighting against higher-ranked Swiss opponent Yannick Wilhelmi. Despite putting up a spirited fight on court, Chotrani lost in straight games with a closely contested scoreline of 9-11, 9-11, bringing an early end to his campaign at the London Squash Classic.
As the tournament progresses, attention will firmly rest on Anahat Singh and Ramit Tandon as they carry India’s hopes forward into the second-round battles against formidable international seeds.
