Published:
Indian teenager Anahat Singh produced one of the biggest results of her young senior career by defeating Egypt’s Nour ElSherbini, an eight-time world champion, in straight games at the Silicon Valley Open in Redwood City, California. The Times of India reported that Anahat won 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 in 30 minutes on October 21, 2026, advancing to the quarterfinals of the PSA Gold-level tournament.
ElSherbini entered the event as the women’s top seed and one of the sport’s most decorated players. Anahat’s victory therefore stands out not simply as a progression in the draw, but as a win against an opponent with extensive experience at the highest level of professional squash.
Anahat took the opening game 11-8 and repeated that score in the second, putting pressure on ElSherbini to extend the match. The Indian then closed out the third game 11-7, completing the upset in half an hour, according to the match report.
Winning in three games meant Anahat did not allow the Egyptian a route back into the contest. The result also showed her ability to deliver under the pressure of facing the tournament’s top seed, whose record includes eight world championship titles.
The result came in the second round of the women’s draw. The tournament schedule listed ElSherbini against Anahat for the round of 16, with the winner progressing to the quarterfinal stage on Thursday, October 22.
Anahat has emerged as one of India’s leading young squash players, with success at junior level and growing experience on the professional circuit. A win over ElSherbini provides a significant benchmark against an established senior opponent and adds to the Indian player’s record of competing against elite international names.
The match also illustrates the depth of the women’s field at the Silicon Valley Open. The event’s official announcement identified ElSherbini as world No. 3 and highlighted that 10 players in the women’s draw were among the world’s top 20. In that context, a straight-games win over the top seed is a notable result for an 18-year-old challenger.
The result should be viewed as a major tournament win rather than a conclusion to Anahat’s campaign. The quarterfinals remain ahead, and the draw will determine her next opponent and the next test in Redwood City.
The Silicon Valley Open runs from October 20 to 24 at Squash Zone in Redwood City, California. It is a Gold-level Professional Squash Association World Tour event, bringing together 24 men and 24 women and offering $260,000 in total player compensation, distributed equally between the two draws.
The tournament features leading international players, including ElSherbini and Peru’s Diego Elias, both highlighted among the world’s top-ranked competitors in the event’s official preview. The women’s draw also includes established contenders such as American Olivia Weaver and Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam.
The event forms part of the 2026-27 PSA World Tour and comes at a time when squash is building toward its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028. The tournament’s official materials describe the Olympic inclusion as a milestone for the sport, which is seeking to expand its audience and global profile.
Anahat’s victory secured a place in the quarterfinals, scheduled for October 22. The next match will provide another opportunity to measure her form against a strong field in a tournament where every round brings the possibility of facing a higher-ranked or more experienced opponent.
For Indian squash, the immediate takeaway is the scale of the scalp: Anahat defeated an eight-time world champion and the tournament’s top seed without dropping a game. The result does not guarantee a title run, but it gives the Indian a strong platform as the competition enters its latter stages.
Her performance in Redwood City will also be watched in the broader context of her development on the senior circuit. A result of this kind against a player of ElSherbini’s stature can provide valuable experience as Anahat continues to compete at major PSA events and prepares for the sport’s next international milestones.
