India has a 15-year old prodigy in Anahat Singh who is expected to lead Indian Squash to greater heights in the years to come. While the teenager has recently won a medal at the Asian Games, one can now hope that she also bags an Olympic medal as Squash has made the cut for the Paris Olympics.
Squash is all set to make its Olympics debut at Los Angeles in 2028. The proposal for the sport to be included in the Olympic programme has been approved by the International Olympic Committe executive board on Friday.
Also Read: It’s official! IOC approves Cricket’s return to Olympics after 128 years
Squash finally makes it to the Olympics
Squash has been included in the Olympics along with Cricket, Flag football, baseball, softball and lacrosse. For India especially, the inclusion of Squash and Cricket will be a massive one. While the country is a superpower in terms of cricket. In Squash too there are talents like Anahat Singh.
Squash has been in the list of probables to make the cut for the Olympics in the last three editions. However in 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024, the sport has been overlooked.
Several reasons for the sport not making to cut to the Games includes expensive set up, difficult rules etc. The sport also pushed for its Paris 2024 inclusion highlighting how the sport could attract audience by placing the glasscourts at iconic locations around the city. However the rejection continued. The reason given for its non-inclusion in Paris was that Squash did not meet the bill to “make Olympics more urban”
Anahat Singh can hope of winning the Olympic medal in Squash for India
Anahat Singh has already represented India at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. She won two medals at the recently concluded Asian Games. The 15-year old played a role in the Women’s team bronze medal winning show in the tournament. She also won another bronze by partnering Abhay Singh in the Mixed Doubles.
Anahat Singh is also an Under-15 and Under-17 Asian Champion and is touted as India’s superstar. With the trialblazing Indian squash players Dipika Pallikal, Joshana Chinnappa and Saurav Ghosal are all at the fag end of their careers at the moment. Anahat Singh is touted to be the big name from India in the sport by the time of the Los Angeles Olympics.
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