Anahat Singh became the first Indian to be crowned the world junior squash champion after beating Ruqayya Salem of Egypt in a commanding 3-0 victory to win the Gold Medal in the Women's Singles Final at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championship.
With this achievement, Anahat has become the first Indian ever to win the World Junior Squash Championship title, creating a landmark moment for Indian squash and inspiring a new generation of champions.
“It means the world. I still feel like I'm dreaming,” Anahat said after her title win.
“I've been losing in the semis and quarters over the last four years. I've always said, if anyone's asked, ‘This tournament's a curse,' and I've never been able to play well in the event,” the 18-year-old Delhi girl said.
The triumph is even more special as this was her last year on the junior circuit.
“This is my last year (as a junior) and my only chance to win it. It means the world,” Anahat added.
Anahat said she wanted to enjoy the experience of playing in the tournament's final. “I knew if I'm stressed, I play terribly, so I just came out on court and hit my lines well… I wanted to enjoy every moment of getting to play in a world championship final,” she said.
Cyrus Poncha, the secretary-general of the Squash Rackets Federation of India said Anahat's victory was a ‘historic moment' for the sport in the country.
“It's a historic moment for Indian squash. Anahat has the potential to reach great heights,” Poncha said.
“(The late) Mr N Ramachandran, SRFI patron and visionary of Indian Squash Academy, always said it was his dream that India produce a world champion in individual events,” Mr Poncha continued.
“We achieved it in doubles, but to replicate that success in singles, it is really a dream come true. A lot of hard work and effort by Anahat, of course, but we've had the entire nation behind her and her successes over the last few years.”
World No. 20 and top seed Anahat defeated Ruqayya 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in the women's final of the World Squash Junior Individual Championships. Anahat won a bronze medal last year after reaching the semifinals.
Singh has became the first Indian to reach the World Junior Squash Championship final since veteran Joshna Chinappa achieved the feat in 2005.
On Friday, the top seeded Delhi girl beat Egyptian 3/4 seed Barb Sameh 11-3 8-11 11-4 11-6 in the semifinals.
The Delhi girl, a bronze medal-winning semifinalist last year, is the first Indian to reach back-to-back semifinals in the world juniors and remains a firm favourite to win the title.
"I'm really happy. I played Barb a few months ago at the British Junior Open and it was a close match like this, so I knew I'd have to play really well," Anahat said.
Singh had entered the pre-quarterfinals of the World Squash Junior Individual Championships in Ontario, Canada on July 22.
The Women's top seed brushed aside Hong Kong's Pui Yin Chole Lo in straight games in the round-of-32, and further went up against Malaysian Doyce Ye San Lee.
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