India’s Anahat Singh etched her name in history by becoming the country’s first-ever World Junior Squash champion. She defeated Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem in the girls’ singles final of the World Squash Junior Championships 2026 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, on Saturday.
The 18-year-old top seed delivered a commanding performance, beating second seed Salem 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-9) to clinch the title and end Egypt’s long-standing dominance in the tournament. With this triumph, Anahat surpassed India’s previous best result at the event, Joshna Chinappa’s runner-up finish in 2005.
Anahat’s title run was marked by remarkable consistency and control. She dropped just two games across six matches, winning her opening three rounds without conceding a single game. Currently ranked world No. 20 on the senior PSA Tour, she began her campaign with a straight-games victory over Australia’s Lilly Wilson, before easing past Hong Kong China’s Pui Yin Chloe Lo and Malaysia’s Doyce Ye San Lee to reach the quarter-finals.
The business end of the tournament saw her take on a trio of Egyptian opponents, traditionally dominant in junior squash, and come out on top each time. She defeated Habiba Rizk 3-1 in the quarter-finals and followed it up with another 3-1 win over Barb Sameh in the semi-finals, setting up the title clash against Salem, which she controlled from start to finish.
Her victory also brought an end to Egypt’s 13-year winning streak in the girls’ singles category, with Egyptian players having lifted the title every year since 2011. Anahat is now the first non-Egyptian champion since Amanda Sobhy in 2010.
Having won bronze in Cairo last year to end India’s 15-year medal drought at the event, Anahat has now gone a step further, creating history and ushering in a new era for Indian squash.
