Indian athlete Anahita Singh set a new record by winning the Women's Singles title at the World Junior Squash Championship 2026, held in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada.
Final and victory over opponent
In the final, held on July 25th (Saturday), the top-seeded Anahita defeated Ruki Salem from Egypt, who was the second seed. The victory was achieved in three games with scores of 11-3, 11-7, and 11-9.
Historic achievement in Indian squash
This success is particularly significant as no Indian player had previously won the junior squash world championship. Anahita surpassed Josh Chinppu, who had reached the final in 2005, to claim the trophy.
Tournament progression and dominance
In the title match, Anahita demonstrated complete superiority from the start. In the first game, she allowed Salem to score only three points, and in the second game, despite the Egyptian athlete's attempt to come back into the game, the Indian star maintained her composure and held the advantage. The third game was also tense, but Anahita closed out the match in three games with brilliant shots at crucial moments.
Success throughout the competition
Anahita's performance was not limited to the final. Throughout the tournament, she maintained dominance in the game. In six matches, she lost only two games, with the first three matches being won without losing a single game. She began her performance with a victory over Lily Wilson from Australia with a score of 3-0. She then advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Chloe Lo from Hong Kong and Joyce Ye San Lee from Malaysia in three-game matches.
Victory over Egyptian supremacy
In the playoffs, Anahita Singh faced three players from Egypt consecutively. In the quarterfinals, she defeated Habiba Ridk with a score of 3-1, in the semifinals—Barb Sameh with a score of 3-1, and in the final—Ruki Salem with a score of 3-0, proving that she is the strongest contender for this title.
End of long Egyptian reign
Anahita's victory ended Egypt's long dominance in women's singles junior squash. Since 2011, the title belonged to Egyptian athletes for 13 consecutive tournaments. Furthermore, Anahita became the first non-Egyptian athlete to win the junior world championship after Amanda Sobhi from America in 2010.
Path to the top
Anahita's success was not accidental. Last year at the junior world championship held in Cairo, she won the bronze medal, ending a 15-year wait for India. This result foreshadowed her brilliant future, and this time she fulfilled the dream of a world championship. At the age of 18, Anahita Singh ranked 20th in the adult PSA rankings, making her one of the main hopes for Indian squash.
