Anahat Singh Makes History as First Indian to Win World Squash Junior Championship

Union Sports Minister Celebrates Anahat Singh's Achievement

Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Sports Minister, extended his congratulations to Anahat Singh, who has made history by becoming the first Indian to clinch the World Squash Junior Championship title. He expressed his pride on social media, stating, "History Made! Congratulations to Anahat Singh (@Anahat_Singh13) on this phenomenal achievement, a proud moment for every Indian."

Anahat Singh's Historic Victory

Anahat Singh etched her name in history by defeating Egypt's Ruqayya Salem with a score of 3-0 in the girls' singles final at the World Squash Junior Championships 2026. This victory marks her as the first Indian to win this prestigious title, surpassing Joshna Chinappa's runner-up finish in 2005, which had been India's best performance for over two decades, as reported by Olympics.com.

Dominant Performance Throughout the Championship

The 18-year-old showcased her dominance in the final, having dropped only two games throughout the tournament. Anahat began her journey with a straight-games victory against Australian qualifier Lilly Wilson, followed by wins over Hong Kong's Pui Yin Chloe Lo and Malaysia's Doyce Ye San Lee to reach the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals, she triumphed over Egypt's Habiba Rizk with a score of 3-1 (11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9) and then defeated another Egyptian, Barb Sameh, 3-1 (11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6) in the semifinals, according to Olympics.com.

Breaking Egypt's Winning Streak

Anahat's victory against Salem not only crowned her champion but also ended Egypt's long-standing dominance in the junior girls' world championship, a title held by Egyptian players since 2011. Last year, Anahat had already broken India's 15-year drought for an individual medal at the junior world championships by winning bronze in Cairo, and this time she achieved gold.

The competition was also made easier for Anahat as four-time champion Amina Orfi of Egypt was no longer eligible to compete in the junior event, as noted by Olympics.com.

Overview of Indian Players' Performance

Anahat was the sole Indian player to advance significantly in the girls' singles category, while Rudra Singh, Anika Dubey, and Saanvi Kalanki were eliminated in the round of 32.

In the boys' singles, Aryaveer Dewan, the reigning Asian junior champion, was the top performer for India, reaching the last 16. Yusha Nafees and Gurveer Singh were knocked out in the round of 32, and Purav Rambhia exited in the round of 64.

Looking Ahead to the 2028 Olympics

Currently ranked No. 20 in the world on the senior PSA Tour, Anahat aims to build on her remarkable achievement as squash prepares for its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.