On July 25, 2026, 18-year-old squash prodigy Anahat Singh etched her name into the annals of Indian sporting history by becoming the first Indian player ever to clinch the girls’ singles title at the World Squash Junior Championships in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada.
The monumental achievement has drawn widespread acclaim across the nation, with senior political leaders and citizens alike echoing the sentiment that her gold medal will serve as a powerful catalyst to “further popularise squash among the youth”.
The Historic Final
Entering the tournament as the top seed, Anahat faced off against Egypt’s second seed, Ruqayya Salem, in a highly anticipated final. The Indian teenager delivered a masterclass in precision and composure under immense pressure, dismantling Salem in straight games, 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-9).
Despite the high stakes, Anahat dominated the court right from the opening serve. She seamlessly handled Salem’s counter-attacks in a tightly contested third game to seal the championship. Reflecting on her victory, an emotional Anahat admitted that the tournament had previously felt like a “curse” after she repeatedly fell in the quarter-finals and semi-finals in past editions. She acknowledged the pressure of this being her final year of junior eligibility, stating she focused on hitting her lines and enjoying the moment.
Ending an Era of Egyptian Monopoly
Anahat’s triumph is more than just a personal milestone; it marks a seismic shift in global junior squash. With her victory, she ended Egypt’s absolute stranglehold on the girls’ junior world title, breaking a monopoly that Egyptian players had held for 13 consecutive editions dating back to 2011. She became the first non-Egyptian player to win the crown since American Amanda Sobhy did so in 2010.
For India, the victory ended a wait of over two decades for a world junior champion. Anahat went one step further than veteran Indian player Joshna Chinappa, who had secured a runner-up finish at the tournament back in 2005.
Anahat Singh’s Dominant Campaign
Anahat’s path to the gold medal was defined by sheer dominance. Throughout her six matches in Canada, she dropped a total of only two games.
- Opening Rounds: She breezed through her first three rounds against Australia’s Lilly Wilson, Hong Kong’s Pui Yin Chloe Lo, and Malaysia’s Doyce Ye San Lee without dropping a single game.
- The Egyptian Gauntlet: In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, she successfully navigated a gauntlet of top Egyptian talents, defeating Habiba Rizk 3-1 (11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9) and Barb Sameh 3-1 (11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6) to secure her spot in the gold medal match.
The Rise of an Indian Wonderkid
Born in 2008 into a family with a rich sporting background—both her parents played field hockey and her uncle played tennis—Anahat Singh was initially inspired by badminton star P.V. Sindhu before ultimately dedicating herself to squash. Her rise through the global ranks has been meteoric:
- In 2022, at just 14 years of age, she became the youngest athlete to represent India at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
- She secured a bronze medal at the 2025 World Junior Championships in Cairo, ending India’s 15-year wait for an individual medal at the event.
- She is currently ranked in the top 20 globally on the senior PSA Tour and has already collected gold medals from the Asian Junior Championships, National Championships, and the Squash World Cup.
Looking Ahead: Inspiring a Generation
The outpouring of pride following Anahat’s World Championship victory reflects the broader cultural impact of her achievement. Hailed as an inspiring moment for India’s Nari Shakti (women empowerment), her landmark victory on the world stage highlights India’s growing footprint in global sports.
With squash officially set to make its long-awaited Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, Anahat Singh’s historic victory arrives at a pivotal moment. As she closes the chapter on her junior career and transitions fully to the senior circuit, her triumph in Canada will undoubtedly ignite a surge of interest in the sport among Indian youth, laying the foundation for future champions.Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Anahat Singh’s Historic Gold at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championship
On July 25, 2026, 18-year-old squash prodigy Anahat Singh etched her name into the annals of Indian sporting history by becoming the first Indian player ever to clinch the girls’ singles title at the World Squash Junior Championships in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada.
The monumental achievement has drawn widespread acclaim across the nation, with senior political leaders and citizens alike echoing the sentiment that her gold medal will serve as a powerful catalyst to “further popularise squash among the youth”.
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