\u201cI\u2019m not happy at all with the way I played today. I think I could have definitely done a lot better. Maybe I got a bit too happy winning yesterday. I\u2019m not too sure the adrenaline was too high, but I\u2019ve definitely played a lot better than this. I\u2019m still happy with the silver. It was more than I expected,\u201d Anahat said after her final loss.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The defeat ended Anahat\u2019s bid to become the first squash player to secure direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics through the Asian Games, with the singles gold guaranteeing the quota at the continental event.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The teenager had arrived at the final after a remarkable semifinal comeback against Japan\u2019s Satomi Watanabe, overturning a two-game deficit and saving two match points before becoming the first Indian to reach the women\u2019s singles squash final at the Asian Games.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Reflecting on what she would take from the competition, Anahat focused on the experience of handling pressure at the highest level.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMaybe, I mean there\u2019s a lot that I\u2019ve learned from this event. I played my match yesterday and there\u2019s not really been many instances where I\u2019ve come back from being down in a match. It\u2019s always the other way around. But yeah, I mean just getting to learn how to handle being on these top stages. It\u2019s only my second Asian game, so just learning how to handle that pressure and playing against players who are more experienced,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Anahat, the reigning Junior World Champion, acknowledged the gap between herself and an established top-five player such as Sivasangari, who is ranked fifth in the world.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cA lot didn\u2019t work today, but she\u2019s number five. Like I said before, there\u2019s still a lot for me to improve on and there\u2019s still a huge gap. Not everyone realises, but even number five and number six, there\u2019s a huge difference,\u201d the young prodigy added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
She said reviewing the final would be part of her preparation for future meetings with Sivasangari and other leading players. \u201cI can take this on and do that. As I play, I\u2019m definitely going to try to get better and learn from it.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cA lot didn\u2019t work today, but she\u2019s number five. Like I said before, there\u2019s still a lot for me to improve on and there\u2019s still a huge gap. Not everyone realises, but even number five and number six, there\u2019s a huge difference,\u201d the young prodigy added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe have a good chance. We have a really strong team this time. We have Joshna, we have Tanvi, who\u2019s been playing at the Asian Games. Joshna has played so many times. She\u2019s one of the best players that India has ever seen in squash. Just having those kinds of teammates by our side, it\u2019s great. Hopefully, we can back each other up in the next coming week and pull off something great,\u201d Anahat concluded.<\/p>\r\n\r\n