Saurav Ghosal and Coaches Aim to Build Unique Play Style for Squash Star Anahat Singh

Indian squash player Anahat Singh reached her maiden PSA Gold-level semi-finals at the Silicon Valley Open, a run that included a win over the legendary Nour El Sherbini and world No. 14 Salma Hany. Despite this milestone, her team remains focused on higher targets. National head coach Harinder Singh and mentor Saurav Ghosal note that the ultimate goal is winning titles rather than stopping at the semi-finals. Malaysian world No. 4 Sivasangari Subramaniam once again proved to be a hurdle, defeating Anahat for the third time in a month and a half, including at the Asian Games final. Saurav points out that Sivasangari's base level is currently higher and that the teenager needs to build more physical strength and power to handle top-tier pace and intensity. This physical development is expected to take anywhere from three to six months or longer. Anahat also dealt with a right leg injury during the semi-final after taking an awkward fall in the previous round, though her team refuses to use it as an excuse for the loss. Beyond physical training, Saurav is working with head coach Gregory Gaultier to shape a distinct identity for Anahat on the court. Instead of matching the heavy-hitting, high-intensity style favored by current players like world No. 1 Amina Orfi, the coaches want her to use off-beat patterns and tactical variations to disrupt opponents.

Context

Squash is a fast-paced indoor racket sport where players use all four walls of a court to hit a small rubber ball. Mentorship plays a major role in modern elite sports, where experienced former players guide younger athletes through the physical and mental demands of the professional tour.