Anahat Singh clinches Costa North Coast Open 2024

16-year-old Indian squash prodigy Anahat Singh won the Costa North Coast Open 2024 as she beat Akari Midorikawa of Japan in the final in Coffs Harbour, Australia.

Anahat, the third seed, defeated sixth-seeded Akari 3-0, with the Indian player winning all three games 11-6 to emerge triumphant.

It was Anahat's third PSA Challenger title in less than three months, and she won it dropping only one game throughout the tournament. Earlier this year, Anahat won the Dynam Cup SQ-Cube Open and Reliance PSA Challenge 3 Tournament. She also won the JSW Willingdon Little Masters and Senior Tournament, Hamdard Squashters Northern Slam, and HCL Squash Tour in Chennai and Kolkata.

After receiving a bye in the first round at the Costa North Coast Open, the Indian teenager defeated Hong Kong's Bobo Lam 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 in the second round to seal her place in the quarterfinals.

Anahat faced off against eighth seed Helen Tang in the quarterfinal and won without dropping a game. Anahat cruised into the semifinals with an 11-8, 11-4, 11-7 win over Helen.

In the semifinal, the Indian youngster went up against Hong Kong's Kirstie Wong, the seventh seed, and sealed her place in the final with a 3-1 win.

Anahat won the opening game 11-5 but Kirstie drew level by winning the second game 7-11. In the next two games, Anahat edged past Kirstie 11-7 and 11-9 to confirm her place in the final.

Akari, playing in the second semifinal, set up the title clash against Anahat after a 3-2 win over New Zealand's Ella Lash.

Akari took the first two games 11-5 and 11-9 quite easily. However, Lash fought back by winning the next two games 11-2 and 11-6. In the deciding game, Akari maintained her cool and emerged victorious with an 11-5 win.

In the final, Anahat continued her blazing form and dwarfed Akari to win the Costa North Coast Open 2024.