Indian sports added a golden chapter to its history books, as 18-year-old squash prodigy Anahat Singh crowned a spectacular campaign by becoming the first Indian player ever to win the World Junior Squash Championship title.
In an intense, high-octane final, Anahat outplayed Egypt’s top-seeded Ruqayya Salem with a masterclass in tactical placement, court coverage, and mental fortitude. The historic victory marks a monumental watershed moment for Indian racquet sports, ending decades of Egyptian dominance in the junior world circuit and establishing Anahat Singh as one of the world’s brightest young sporting icons.
The Summit Clash: How Anahat Conquered the World Title
Entering the final as a determined contender against Egypt’s formidable Ruqayya Salem, Anahat displayed calm maturity right from the opening serve. Known for her deceptive drop shots and quick retrieving abilities, the Delhi-born teenager kept her opponent off-balance throughout the high-stakes match.
After dropping a tightly contested opening game where Salem relied on power drives, Anahat adapted her strategy rapidly. She lengthened the rallies, forced Salem into deep defensive corners, and executed precise straight-kill drops at the front wall.
| MATCH PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS | |
|---|---|
| ANAHAT SINGH (IND) – Unmatched court retrieval & speed. – High precision drops in front corners. – Mental composure in clutch rallies. | RUQAYYA SALEM (EGY) – Heavy power drives from deep court. – Early aggressive pressure. – Unforced errors under pressure in games 3 and 4. |
The third and fourth games saw Anahat Singh dominate the ‘T’ – the central strategic position on the squash court – allowing her to dictate game tempo and force unforced errors from Salem. When Salem’s final return clipped the tin on match point, Anahat Singh dropped her racquet in sheer joy before celebrating with her family and coaching team.
From Child Prodigy to World Champion: The Journey of Anahat Singh
Anahat Singh’s historic triumph is the result of years of disciplined training and early international exposure.
- Badminton Origins: Interestingly, Anahat initially started her sporting journey playing badminton at age six, following her older sister Amira. She shifted her focus to squash at age eight, quickly falling in love with the fast-paced indoor game.
- Breakout at Commonwealth Games 2022: At just 14 years old, Anahat made national headlines by becoming the youngest member of the Indian contingent at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, where she won her opening round match.
- National Dominance: Over the past four years, she secured multiple National Junior and Senior titles, British Junior Open crowns, and Asian Junior individual gold medals before achieving this ultimate junior world title.
Reactions & Tributes: Prime Minister, Sports Ministry Congratulate Anahat
Tributes poured in from across the nation to celebrate Anahat’s historic milestone.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media platform X to express pride in her milestone victory:
“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.”
Former squash greats, including Cyrus Poncha and Saurav Ghosal, hailed the win as a paradigm shift for Indian squash, noting that breaking the Egyptian barrier at the junior level lays a solid foundation for future Senior World Tour titles and the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squash will make its official Olympic debut.
The LA 2028 Olympics Horizon
With the World Junior title secured, Anahat Singh now transitions toward cementing her standing on the senior PSA (Professional Squash Association) World Tour. With squash officially included in the sport program for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Anahat represents India’s brightest medal prospect on the global stage.
Her victory stands as proof that Indian squash has arrived on the highest platform of world sport.
