Mumbai, March 22 – Sunday marked a celebratory day for Indian squash fans as local favorites Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh won the men’s and women’s titles, respectively, at the Indian Open 2026 held at the CCI.
The men's final saw a fierce battle between seeded players, with Abhay Singh (seeded second) defeating Veer Chotrani (seeded fourth) 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-4). Anahat Singh (seeded first) dominated Hana Moataz of Egypt 3-1 (11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6) in the women's final.
Abhay Singh played exceptionally well in the men's final. Although Chotrani put up a strong fight in the first two games, Abhay gained an advantage as the match progressed.
The first game was a closely contested match, with both players vying for every point. Abhay Singh ultimately won the first game 11-9, taking the lead.
The second game followed a similar pattern, with long rallies keeping the spectators engaged. However, Abhay managed to overcome his compatriot's challenge, winning 11-8 and extending his lead.
Abhay intensified his performance in the third game, making it difficult for Chotrani to anticipate his shots. Abhay won the game 11-4, securing the match and the title.
After winning the Indian Open 2026, Abhay Singh (Indian #2) said, "I'm very happy to have won this tournament. Squash in India is currently in a great position, with four players in the top 50, and Anahat is leading the women's rankings. Of course, my individual goal is the Los Angeles Olympics, but we all have a big year ahead of us and need to focus on winning gold. We need to support each other, both on and off the court, to achieve this goal."
Earlier, Anahat Singh (seeded first) delivered a superb performance, defeating Hana Moataz of Egypt to win the women's title.
Although Moataz was a more experienced player, Anahat dominated the match with her speed and precision. Anahat consistently outpaced her opponent, winning the first game 11-5 and taking an early lead.
The second game saw Anahat maintain her dominance, building a 5-1 lead. Moataz fought back, but Anahat continued to perform well, winning the second game 11-6 and securing a 2-0 lead.
Despite being challenged in the first two games, Moataz staged a comeback in the third game, winning 11-9 and prolonging the match.
Moataz tried to slow down the pace of the game to counter Anahat's speed, while Anahat's precise shots proved effective.
Anahat's rhythm was disrupted in the third game as Moataz increased the pace. Moataz took a 4-1 lead in the fourth game. However, Anahat recovered and won the next five points, winning the game 11-6 and claiming the title.
After winning the Indian Open for the second consecutive year, Anahat Singh (India #1) said, "I think I played well in the first two games, but I made a few mistakes in the third. I was very excited to be winning. But I talked to my coach during the match, and he reminded me to focus on getting a good start, as it was important not to lose to the fifth game. I started the fourth game well, and I'm glad I was able to get through it. I always remind myself to stay focused, because I tend to lose focus easily. If I lose two points in a row, I remind myself to stay motivated and focus on the next few points.
"I think it's amazing how Hana played. She was unwell last week, but she managed to reach the finals after a tough match yesterday, and she still put up such a great performance. It's inspiring to see. I'm glad we were able to put up a good fight for the audience, and hopefully everyone had fun watching."