Top seed Anahat Singh completed a hat-trick of titles by winning the women’s singles event at the National Squash Championship 2025 in New Delhi on Thursday.
The 81st edition of India’s senior National Squash Championship was held from August 23 to 28.
The 17-year-old Anahat Singh, India’s highest-ranked women’s squash player in the world, defeated second seed Akansha Salunkhe 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-4) in the final at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium.
Akansha Salunkhe had earlier ousted veteran and 19-time national champion Joshna Chinappa in the semi-finals, but fell short against Anahat’s precision and pace in the title clash.
Anahat, who finished runner-up in 2022 before winning the next three editions, had first lifted the national title in 2023 at just 15 years old – becoming the second-youngest Indian squash player in the women’s category to become a champion after Joshna, who won at 14 back in 2000.
In the men’s draw, Velavan Senthilkumar reclaimed the title with a hard-fought 3-1 (11-8, 11-9, 4-11, 11) 8 victory over last year’s champion Abhay Singh. Senthilkumar had lost to Abhay Singh in the previous final in Mumbai last year.
The 2025 edition, hosted in the capital for the first time in seven years, was contested only in singles.
Earlier this year, Chennai staged the National Doubles Squash Championship, where Anahat and Abhay combined to win the mixed doubles.
Anahat also struck gold in the women’s doubles with Joshna, and Velavan teamed up with Abhay to claim the men’s doubles crown.
Last month, Anahat clinched the bronze medal at the World Junior Squash Championships 2025 in New Cairo, Egypt, ending the country’s 15-year wait for an individual medal at the prestigious under-19 event.
Squash is all set to make its Olympic debut at LA 2028.