Indian Anahat Singh wins World Junior Girls Squash Title

Indian squash player Anahat Singh made history on Saturday, July 25, 2026, by becoming the first from her country to win the World Squash Junior Championships girls' singles title. The 18-year-old top seed delivered a commanding performance in the final in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, defeating Egypt's second-seeded Ruqayya Salem in straight games, 11-3, 11-7, 11-9.

The victory ended Egypt's 15-year dominance of the junior girls' world championship, a streak dating back to 2011, and surpassed the previous best Indian finish, a runner-up result by Joshna Chinappa in 2005. Singh was in complete control throughout the tournament, dropping just two games across her six matches en route to the title. Her path included straight-game wins in the early rounds and four-game victories over Egyptians Habiba Rizk in the quarterfinals and Barb Sameh in the semifinals, which she won on Friday, July 24.

After her semifinal win, Singh acknowledged the significance of reaching the final but emphasized her focus remained on the ultimate prize. She noted a previous close match against Sameh and said reaching the final after previous exits in the quarterfinals and semifinals at four World Junior...