World Junior Squash Championships 2026: Anahat Singh Defeats Ruqayya Salem To Win Historic Gold For India

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Indian squash celebrated a historic milestone on Saturday as Anahat Singh became the country’s first-ever World Junior Squash Champion. Competing in the girls’ singles final at the 2026 World Squash Junior Championships in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, the 18-year-old delivered a dominant display to defeat Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem in straight games, securing a memorable 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 victory.

The top-seeded Indian not only claimed the biggest title of her career but also rewrote the record books by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious junior world crown. Her triumph ended Egypt’s 15-year stranglehold on the girls’ singles title, making Anahat the first non-Egyptian champion since American Amanda Sobhy lifted the trophy in 2010.

Anahat Singh Ends Egypt’s 15-Year Dominance To Become India’s First-Ever World Junior Squash Champion

Indian squash reached a defining moment on Saturday as Anahat Singh became the country’s first-ever World Junior Squash Champion, defeating Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem in straight games to lift the girls’ singles title at the 2026 World Squash Junior Championships in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada. The top-seeded 18-year-old produced a commanding performance to win 11-3, 11-7, 11-9, surpassing Joshna Chinappa’s runner-up finish in 2005 and becoming the first Indian to claim the prestigious junior world crown. She also ended Egypt’s 15-year dominance of the tournament, becoming the first non-Egyptian champion since American Amanda Sobhy in 2010.

Anahat’s title run reflected her status as the tournament favourite. She swept aside her opening three opponents without dropping a game before overcoming Egypt’s Habiba Rizk in the quarter-finals and Barb Sameh in the semi-finals, both by 3-1 margins. In the final, she controlled proceedings from the outset, racing through the opening game before maintaining her composure in the closing stages to complete a memorable straight-games victory. Across six matches, Anahat conceded just two games on her way to the title.

Anahat Singh’s Historic Triumph Signals A Bright Future For Indian Squash

Anahat Singh’s historic triumph is the latest highlight in what has already been a breakthrough year for the Indian teenager. Now ranked inside the world’s top 20 on the senior PSA Tour, she has collected multiple PSA titles and added the World Junior Championship crown to an already impressive list of achievements that includes Asian Games medals. Her victory also brought an end to Egypt’s dominance in the girls’ event, with the nation having held the title continuously since 2011. Just a year earlier, Anahat had ended India’s 15-year wait for an individual medal at the Junior World Championships by claiming bronze in Cairo.

The tournament also unfolded favourably for the Indian star after four-time champion Amina Orfi of Egypt became ineligible to compete. While Anahat emerged as India’s standout performer by winning the girls’ singles title, the rest of the Indian contingent found the going tougher. Rudra Singh, Anika Dubey and Saanvi Kalanki exited in the round of 32, while reigning Asian junior champion Aryaveer Dewan was India’s best performer in the boys’ draw after reaching the last 16. With squash set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, Anahat’s success has further strengthened hopes for India’s future on the sport’s biggest stage.