Badminton's loss is squash's gain: Teenager Anahat Singh set for Commonwealth Games debut

Commonwealth Games, hopes to bump into her role model P V Sindhu over the course of her stay in Birmingham. Anahat's desire to meet India's most decorated shuttler doesn't come as a surprise considering she played badminton before deciding to make a career out of squash. As a 6-7 seven year-old, the Delhi-based girl watched the likes of Sindhu, Saina Nehwal and Lee Chong Wei play in the Indian Open at the Siri Fort Complex here and since then she has not been able to flush badminton out of her system.

Speaking to PTI ahead of the Birmingham Games, Anahat said she remains a badminton lover till date but switched to squash as she found the sport more exciting. "I used to play badminton before and I have watched Sindhu play in Delhi. I hope I get to see her during the Games.

On the squash front, it is really exciting as well. The players I have looked up to, I will be playing and travelling with them," said Anahat referring to the accomplished duo of Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal. Her elder sister Amira Singh too is a squash player which contributed immensely to Anahat taking up the sport.

"She loved badminton but as parents we used to travel with Amira for tournaments and Anahat did not want to be left alone in the house. That also played a big part in her switching to squash from badminton," remembered Anahat's mother Tani Vadehra Singh. "Though she left playing badminton long time ago, she still watches it on TV and remains connected with her coach as well." Anahat's first major squash title came in 2019 when she won the prestigious British Open in the U-11 category.