Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada – Indian squash achieved a historic milestone on Saturday as 18-year-old sensation Anahat Singh became the country’s first-ever World Junior Squash Champion. The top-seeded Indian delivered a commanding performance in the women’s singles final, defeating Egypt’s second seed Ruqayya Salem in straight games (11-3, 11-7, 11-9) at the tournament in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada. The victory not only secured the biggest title of her young career but also ended Egypt’s 15-year dominance of the event, making Anahat the first non-Egyptian to win the girls’ junior world championship since American Amanda Sobhy in 2010.
Anahat’s path to glory was marked by a string of dominant performances. She defeated Egypt’s Habiba Rizk in the quarter-finals and overcame another Egyptian, Barb Sameh, 3-1 in the semi-finals to become the first Indian finalist since Joshna Chinappa, who finished runner-up in 2005. In the final, Anahat displayed remarkable composure and tactical discipline, racing through the first game 11-3, controlling the rallies to take the second 11-7, and holding her nerve in a tightly contested third game to clinch the title 11-9 without dropping a single game.
This triumph is the latest achievement in a breakthrough year for the Delhi youngster, who has already broken into the world’s top 20 rankings and collected multiple PSA titles. Her resume also includes medals at the Asian Games and a growing list of senior-level accomplishments. The junior world crown adds a historic chapter to Indian squash, which had been waiting for a world champion. With the victory, Anahat has not only rewritten Indian squash history but also announced herself as one of the brightest young stars in world squash, raising hopes for even greater success when the sport makes its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
