Abhay & Anahat Singh Crowned Champions at JSW Indian Open 2026

Abhay Singh dominated his compatriot Veer Chotrani in a straight-games victory to claim the men's title. Anahat Singh showcased a sublime performance to overcome Egypt's Hana Moataz and secure the women's crown for the second year in a row. Both champions expressed their happiness with the win and highlighted the healthy state of Indian squash. They also emphasized the collective goal of preparing for and winning gold at the upcoming LA Olympics.

Key Points: Abhay & Anahat Singh Win JSW Indian Open 2026 Titles

  • Abhay Singh beats Veer Chotrani 3-0 in all-Indian final
  • Anahat Singh defeats Hana Moataz 3-1 for women's title
  • Anahat wins tournament for second consecutive year
  • Both champions highlight focus on upcoming LA Olympics
  • Indian squash praised for its current strength and depth
4 min read

Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh emerge champions at JSW Indian Open 2026

Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh clinch the men's and women's titles at the JSW Indian Open 2026 squash tournament in Mumbai.

"I'm really happy to have won the tournament. Indian squash is very healthy right now... - Abhay Singh"

Mumbai, March 22

Local favourites Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh won the men's and women's titles respectively on the final day of the JSW Indian Open 2026 at the CCI on Sunday.

The men's title clash was an all-Indian battle with the second-seeded Abhay overpowering his fourth-seeded compatriot Veer Chotrani 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-4), according to a release. Young sensation Anahat Singh, on the other hand, blew away Hana Moataz of Egypt 3-1 (11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6) in the women's final.

Abhay was in superb form in the men's final. Although Chotrani produced a spirited fight in the first two games, the second seed zoomed up a gear as the match progressed.

The opening game was a hard-fought battle with every point contested fiercely. Abhay Singh finally prevailed in the see-saw battle to take the opening game 11-9 and take the lead.

The second game followed a similar script, with every point witnessing long rallies keeping the spectators hooked. However, Abhay managed to quell an intense challenge by his compatriot to win 11-8 and extend his lead.

Abhay cranked up the intensity in the third game, with Chotrani finding it difficult to read his deceptive angles and powerful smashes. The second seed took the game 11-4 to win the match and the title.

On winning the JSW Indian Open 2026, Abhay Singh said, "I'm really happy to have won the tournament. Indian squash is very healthy right now with four men in the top 50, Anahat leading the charts in the Women's World Champs. Obviously, the goal individually is the LA Olympics, but we all have a big year ahead and need to defend gold. As much as we're competing against each other on tour, this year is also about coming together, pushing each other, and backing each other to win gold in Japan."

Earlier, top-seeded Anahat Singh of India came up with a sublime performance to outclass Hana Moataz of Egypt and clinch the women's title.

Although the second-seeded Egyptian was a much-experienced contender, the younger Anahat was in a league all her own. The top-seeded Indian came up with a lethal combination of deception and speedy cross-court movement to leave her second-seeded opponent struggling to match her pace.

During the initial exchanges, both opponents were equally matched, matching each other blow for blow. The first game saw the lead change hands after almost every other rally before the Indian rattled off six consecutive points to take it 11-5 and surge into the lead.

Anahat continued her dominance in the second game as well, building up a comfortable 5-1 lead in double quick time. Although Hana did her best to put up a strong fight, she failed to match up to the in-form India, who went on to win the second game 11-6 and double the lead.

Despite being outgunned during the first two games, Hana staged a spirited comeback in the third game, taking a tight 11-9 verdict to stay alive in the contest.

The Egyptian tried to slow down the rallies in an effort to counter her much faster Indian opponent, while the difficult angles of her shots stood her in good stead.

The third game loss seemed to break Anahat's rhythm, with Hanna forcing the pace. The Egyptians raced into a 4-1 lead in the fourth game. To her credit, Anahat managed to pick herself up and fought back to claim the lead at 5-4 before winning five back-to-back points to win the game 11-6 and claim the title.

On winning the JSW Indian Open for the second consecutive year, Anahat Singh (India #1), said, "I think I played well in the first two games; I went a bit off track in the third. I was excited that I was winning. But I spoke to my coach when he came to my corner in the middle of the game, and he told me to focus on getting a good start because it was important not to let it go to the fifth. I started the fourth well, and I'm glad I was able to get through it. I tell myself to focus because I lose focus quite easily, and if I lose two points in a row, I remind myself to stay motivated, focus on the next few points, and get back into the game.

I think it's really amazing how Hana played. She was not well the past week, reached the finals after a tough full-hour match yesterday, and still came out and put on such a great performance. It's amazing to see. I'm glad we were able to put on a good fight for the audience, and hopefully everyone had fun watching."

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Anahat Singh is a true champion! Not just for winning, but for her gracious words about Hana's performance despite being unwell. That's real sportsmanship. So proud of our young athletes carrying the flag high. 👏
R
Rohit P
Great to see such dominance at home. But a small note - the article says the women's final was between top-seeded Anahat and second-seeded Hana, but then calls Hana "second-seeded Egyptian" twice. A bit confusing for readers. Otherwise, brilliant coverage!
M
Michael C
Watching from the US. The level of squash in India has skyrocketed. Anahat's mental strength to bounce back in the fourth game after losing the third is championship material. The CCI crowd must have been electric!
S
Shreya B
So happy for them! JSW's support for sports is really making a difference. We need more corporates to step up like this. These wins build such a positive atmosphere in the country. More power to our athletes!
V
Vikram M
Abhay's performance was a masterclass. To beat a quality player like Veer 3-0 in a final shows his level right now. The all-Indian men's final itself is a huge statement about the depth we're building. Bahut badhiya!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50