Anahat Singh: India’s historic junior world champion. The 18-year-old squash prodigy made history on Saturday by becoming the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championship in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada. This victory ended Egypt’s 13-year dominance of the girls’ title and marked India’s best ever result at the event.
Top seed Anahat Singh defeated second seed Ruqayya Salem of Egypt 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in the final. The Delhi teenager had to overcome three Egyptian opponents in succession, beating Habiba Rizk in the quarters and Barb Sameh in the semis before her title clash triumph. Her commanding performance showcased remarkable growth and maturity under pressure.
Anahat Singh, who is ranked world No. 20 on the senior PSA Tour, revealed the emotional weight of her achievement. “This tournament had almost become a curse for me. I’ve been losing in the semis and quarters over the last four years. This was my last year as a junior and my only chance to win it. It means the world,” she said. Coached by former world champion Gregory Gaultier, she credited consistency and hard training for her breakthrough.
This historic title positions Anahat Singh as India’s brightest hope for a medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squash will debut. As she moves full time into the senior circuit, her confidence as a junior world champion signals an exciting new chapter for Indian squash.