New Delhi, 26 July. India’s number one Anahat Singh created history at the World Junior Squash Championship in the Canadian province of Ontario by becoming the first Indian player to win the title.
Say hi to our newly crowned World Squash Junior Champion 𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐇 pic.twitter.com/eLlWsGZxrX
— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) July 26, 2026
Anahat, ranked 20th in the world, achieved this historic feat by defeating Egypt’s Ruqaiya Salem 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in the women’s singles final played in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario on Saturday and ended Egypt’s 15-year-old dominance in the women’s event.
PM Modi said – This achievement of Anahat will make squash more popular among the youth.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Anahat Singh on his historic achievement. PM Modi wrote on social media platform X, ‘A historic achievement in the 2026 World Junior Squash Championship. Anahat Singh is proud to win a gold medal and become the first Indian squash player to win a World Junior Championship title. This achievement will make squash more popular among the youth.
A historic feat at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championship.
Proud of Anahat Singh for winning the Gold Medal and becoming the first Indian squash player ever to win the World Junior Championship title. This accomplishment will further popularise squash among the youth.… pic.twitter.com/NtvHnrKNDQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2026
‘I still feel like I’m dreaming’
Anahat, an 18-year-old teenager from the national capital Delhi, said after winning the title, ‘It means a lot to me. I still feel like I’m dreaming. For the last four years I was losing in the semi-finals and quarter-finals. If anyone asks me, I always say that this tournament is a curse for me and I have never been able to perform well in this competition.
This is Anahata’s last year at the junior level
Anahat’s win is all the more special as it was his last year in the junior circuit. “This is my last year at the junior level and this was my last chance to win it,” he said. So it means a lot to me.
‘I wanted to enjoy every moment of playing in the final’
She said that she wanted to enjoy the experience of playing in the final of the tournament. She said, ‘I knew that if I am stressed I cannot perform well, so I came on the court and shot well. I wanted to enjoy every moment of playing in the World Championship final.
I couldn’t be prouder of this young champion, Anahat Singh, on winning the World Junior Squash Championships!
One of my favorite memories of Anahat goes back to 2022, when I had the opportunity to speak with her through OGQ. Even at that age, what stood out wasn’t just her… pic.twitter.com/R8RxUEcSR8
— PV Sindhu (@Pvsindhu1) July 26, 2026
Anahat’s victory ‘historic moment’ for this sport in the country – Cyrus Poncha
Meanwhile, Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) general secretary Cyrus Poncha said that Anahat’s victory is a ‘historic moment’ for the sport in the country. Poncha said, ‘This is a historic moment for Indian squash. Anahata has the potential to reach great heights. SRFI patron (late) N Ramachandran always said that his dream was to see India produce world champions in individual events.’
Cyrus Poncha said, ‘We achieved this feat in doubles, but to repeat the same success in singles is truly a dream come true. Apart from Anahat’s hard work and dedication, the entire country has supported him and his successes over the years.
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