Anahat Singh crowned India's first World Junior Squash champion
(Courtesy :Â World Squash Twitter)
Anahat would be India’s biggest medal hope in squash at 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Anahat Singh has become the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championship. The 18-year-old defeated Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in the girls’ final to be crowned the Junior World Champion at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, on Saturday.
Courtesy of her historic title win, Anahat has now produced India’s best result in the tournament, taking over Joshna Chonappa’s performance in the 2025 championship, where she had finished as the runner-up.
The 18-year-old produced a dominant performance in the tournament, as she dropped only two sets in a total of five matches on her route to the summit clash, where she secured a comfortable win.
Singh started her campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win over Australia’s Lilu Wilson before she stunned Hong Kong’s Pui Yin Chloe and Malaysia’s Doyce Ye San Lee to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
Coincidentally, she faced only Egyptian opponents in the last three games of the tournament. Anahat defeated Habiba Rizk in the quarter-final 3-1 (11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9)— the first time she dropped a set in the tournament.
In the semi-finals, she locked horns against Barb Sameh. Anahat won the first set 11-7; however, Rizk mounted a comeback, winning the second set 8-11. However, Anahat’s challenge was too much for the Egyptian squash player as the 18-year-old won the game 3-1 (11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6).
Meanwhile, in the final, she comfortably went past Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem to become the first Indian to win the prestigious title.
The 18-year-old Indian squash star has also put an end to the Egyptian dominance in the tournament. Egyptian players had won the title for the last 13 consecutive editions.
Singh, a World No. 20 on the senior tour, also participated in the tournament in Cairo last year but was eliminated in the semi-finals and won a bronze medal.
The 18-year-old has announced herself on the global stage of squash, and she would be India’s biggest hope at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the sport will be introduced for the first time.
Who is the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championships?
Anahat Singh has become the first-ever Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championship title. She lifted the girls’ singles title in the 20266 edition.
Who was the last Indian to reach the World Junior Squash Championships?
Joshua Chinappa was the last Indian to reach the final when she finished with a runner-up medal in 2025.
Who did Anahat Singh defeat to win the Girls title at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championship?
She defeated Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-9) in the final to win the title.
Why is Anahat Singh’s title win so significant for Indian squash?
The title victory has made Anahat the first-ever Indian to win a title at the World Junior Squash Championship. Her title win also halted Egypt’s 13-year streak of winning the women’s title in the tournament.
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