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Anahat Singh’s breakthrough run at the 2026 Silicon Valley Open ended in the semifinals on October 23, as Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam came from behind to win 5-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 in Redwood City, California. The 18-year-old Indian took the opening game but could not maintain that early momentum against the tournament’s third seed, who advanced to the final in four games.
The result followed a landmark week for Anahat, who had reached her first semifinal at a PSA Gold-level event. Her campaign included a straight-games win over Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini, the world No. 3 and an eight-time world champion, and a five-game quarterfinal victory over Salma Hany. The semifinal defeat ended that run, but the tournament marked a significant step in her progress on the senior professional tour.
Anahat began the semifinal strongly, taking the first game 11-5 and putting pressure on the Malaysian. Subramaniam responded by tightening her control of the rallies, winning the second game 11-6 before taking the third 11-4. She closed out the match with an 11-7 win in the fourth to seal a 3-1 victory.
The scoreline showed a clear shift after the opening game. Anahat had found ways to attack early, but Subramaniam gradually took control and prevented the Indian from extending the contest to a fifth game. The Malaysian’s ability to win three consecutive games was decisive in a match that began with Anahat looking capable of another upset.
Subramaniam entered the event as the third seed and was listed as world No. 4 in reports ahead of the semifinal. Her progression was consistent with her status as one of the leading players in the women’s draw. For Anahat, the match was another opportunity to measure herself against an established top-level opponent, even though the result went against her.
The semifinal carried extra context because the players had met in the women’s singles final at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. Subramaniam won that final 11-4, 11-4, 11-7, earning gold while Anahat took silver. The Silicon Valley Open meeting gave the Indian a chance to test herself against the Malaysian again on the professional circuit.
The rematch again went Subramaniam’s way, but Anahat’s opening-game win showed she could challenge the Malaysian in stretches. The difference came in the response after the first game, when Subramaniam adjusted and took control of the next three. The result adds another data point in their developing rivalry as Anahat gains experience against the world’s leading players.
- 5-11: Anahat’s score in the opening game, which she won.
- 11-6: Subramaniam’s score to level the match in game two.
- 11-4: Subramaniam’s third-game score.
- 11-7: The fourth-game score that sealed the semifinal.
- 3-1: The final game-count in Subramaniam’s favour.
- October 20-24, 2026: The dates of the Silicon Valley Open in Redwood City.
The semifinal loss should be viewed alongside the quality of Anahat’s earlier results. She defeated Nour El Sherbini in straight games, with scores of 11-8, 11-8, 11-7, before coming through a demanding quarterfinal against Salma Hany. Anahat lost the first and third games against Hany but rallied to win 4-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2, 11-5 in 42 minutes.
That run made Anahat the first Indian woman to reach a PSA Gold-level semifinal since Joshna Chinappa in 2019, according to coverage of the tournament. It also placed her among the standout stories of the women’s draw, even though she did not reach the final. The event provided valuable experience in adapting to different opponents across successive rounds.
The Silicon Valley Open’s women’s draw carried a listed prize fund of US$143,500, and the tournament was staged in Redwood City, California, from October 20 to 24. The Gold-level field offered Anahat a chance to face higher-ranked opponents and test the level she has reached after strong junior and Asian Games performances.
With the semifinal loss, Anahat’s Silicon Valley Open campaign is complete. The immediate takeaway is a first PSA Gold-level semifinal and wins over two highly rated Egyptian opponents, followed by a competitive opening game against Subramaniam. The experience also gives her another match against a leading player to review as she continues her professional development.
Subramaniam advanced to the final, while Anahat left California without a place in the championship match. For Indian squash, Anahat’s run remains a notable result: she reached a stage not achieved by an Indian woman at this level since 2019 and showed she can defeat elite opponents in a tournament setting. Her next events will offer the opportunity to build on that progress and work on sustaining momentum across the full length of a semifinal.
