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Anahat Singh scripted history by becoming the country’s first junior world squash champion after defeating Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem in the girls’ singles final at the 2026 World Squash Junior Championships in Canada. The top-seeded 18-year-old beat second seed Salem 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in straight games at Niagara-on-the-Lake on Saturday to secure the title.

The victory marks a historic milestone for Indian squash, with Anahat becoming the first player from the country to win the junior world crown.

Her triumph surpasses Joshna Chinappa’s runner-up finish in 2005, which had stood as India’s best performance at the World Junior Squash Championships for more than two decades.

Anahat, India’s top-ranked women’s player and world No. 20 on the senior PSA Tour, enjoyed a dominant run throughout the tournament. She dropped just two games across six matches on her way to the title and did not concede a single game in her opening three victories.

Reacting to the win, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya wrote on X: “History Made! Congratulations to Anahat Singh on becoming the first Indian ever to win the World Squash Junior Championship. A phenomenal achievement and a proud moment for every Indian.”

The teenager began her campaign with a straight-games win over Australian qualifier Lilly Wilson before overcoming Hong Kong China’s Pui Yin Chloe Lo and Malaysia’s Doyce Ye San Lee to reach the quarter-finals.

She then faced three successive opponents from Egypt.

Anahat defeated Habiba Rizk 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 in the last eight before beating Barb Sameh 11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6 in the semi-finals.

She completed her title-winning run by overcoming Salem in straight games in the final.

The victory also ended Egypt’s dominance of the girls’ event, with Egyptian players having won every title since 2011.

Anahat had already made history last year when she won bronze in Cairo, ending India’s 15-year wait for an individual medal at the junior world championships.

This year’s draw was missing four-time champion Amina Orfi of Egypt, who was no longer eligible to compete in the junior event.

Anahat was India’s standout performer in the girls’ competition.

Fellow Indians Rudra Singh, Anika Dubey and Saanvi Kalanki were all eliminated in the round of 32.

In the boys’ singles, reigning Asian junior champion Aryaveer Dewan reached the last 16, while Yusha Nafees and Gurveer Singh exited in the round of 32. Purav Rambhia was knocked out in the round of 64.

Squash is due to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

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