Historic Victory in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Anahat Singh has achieved a significant milestone in Indian squash, becoming the country’s first World Junior Squash champion. Her victory came in the girls’ singles final of the World Squash Junior Championships 2026, held in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada. Singh defeated Ruqayya Salem of Egypt in the final match.
The top-seeded Indian player secured her title with a 3-0 win over second seed Salem, with set scores of 11-3, 11-7, 11-9. This triumph marks a historic moment for India in the tournament, ending a long period of dominance by Egyptian players in the girls’ singles event.
Singh’s performance throughout the championship was consistently strong. She dropped only two sets across her six matches on her path to the title. Notably, she won her initial three matches without conceding a single game, demonstrating her control and skill from the outset of the competition.
Journey to the Championship
Singh, who is currently ranked world No. 20 on the senior PSA Tour, began her campaign at the World Squash Junior Championships 2026 with a decisive 3-0 victory against Lilly Wilson of Australia. This strong start set the tone for her successful run in the tournament.
Following her opening win, Singh continued to advance by defeating Pui Yin Chloe Lo from Hong Kong China and Doyce Ye San Lee of Malaysia. These victories propelled her into the quarter-finals, where she faced a series of challenging opponents.
In the quarter-finals, Singh overcame Habiba Rizk with a 3-1 scoreline, winning 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9. She then progressed to the semi-finals, where she secured another 3-1 victory against Barb Sameh, with set scores of 11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6. Her consistent performance against these opponents, including three consecutive Egyptian players in the knockout stages, highlights her dominance in the championship.
Ending a Period of Egyptian Dominance
Anahat Singh’s victory is particularly significant as it concludes a 13-year period of Egyptian dominance in the girls’ singles event at the World Junior Squash Championships. Egyptian players had won the title for 13 consecutive editions, a streak that began in 2011.
Her win also makes her the first non-Egyptian player to claim the girls’ singles title since Amanda Sobhy achieved the feat in 2010. This achievement surpasses India’s previous best result at the junior world championships, which was a runner-up finish by Joshna Chinappa in 2005.
Last year, Singh earned a bronze medal at the junior world championships in Cairo, ending India’s 15-year wait for an individual medal at the event. This year, she improved upon that performance by securing the gold medal and becoming India’s first junior world champion in squash.
The World Squash Junior Championships saw other Indian players also advance in their respective categories. On the opening day, Saanvi Kalanki progressed after a five-game match against Elcke Mols of the Netherlands, with scores of 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6. Anika Dubey also registered a straight-game victory of 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 over Anna Kuwahara of Japan, while Rudra Singh received a walkover from Khadija Abdulraheem of Nigeria.
In the men’s section, Aryaveer Dewan, Yusha Nafees, and Gurveer Singh, who had received first-round byes, advanced to the third round of the men’s singles. Dewan secured a 12-10, 11-6, 11-9 win over Levi Visser of Germany. Nafees achieved a 11-1, 11-1, 11-1 victory against Matheus Frabetti of Brazil, and Gurveer beat Christian Dromgoole of Ireland 11-3, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6.
Anahat Singh’s historic win at the World Squash Junior Championships 2026 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, marks a significant moment for Indian squash on Saturday.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
