Anahat Singh makes history, becomes first Indian to win world junior squash title; the 13-year reign of Egypt ends

India’s Anahat Singh made history by becoming the country’s first world junior squash champion after defeating Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem in the girls’ singles final at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championship in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada on Saturday.Top-seeded Anahat beat second-seeded Salem 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-9) to claim the title and end Egypt’s long run in the tournament.The 18-year-old’s win is India’s best-ever result at a Junior World Cup and goes a step further than Joshna Chinappa’s 2005 runner-up finish.Anahat was in control of the entire tournament. She dropped just two sets in six matches en route to the title, winning her opening three matches without dropping a game.

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The senior PSA Tour world number 2 started her campaign with a 3-0 win over Australia’s Lilly Wilson. She then defeated China’s Pui Yin Chloe Lo of Hong Kong and Doyce Ye San Lee of Malaysia to reach the quarterfinals.From there, Anahat overcame three Egyptian opponents in a row. She beat Habiba Rizk 3-1 (11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9) in the quarter-finals, followed that up with a 3-1 (11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6) win over Barb Sameh in the semi-finals before defeating Salem in the final.Her victory also ended Egypt’s dominance in the girls’ singles. Egyptian players have won the title in 13 consecutive editions since 2011.Anahat also became the first non-Egyptian player to win the World Junior Squash Championship singles title since Amanda Sobhya in 2010.Last year, Anahat ended India’s 15-year wait for an individual medal at the Junior World Championships by winning bronze in Cairo. She went a step further this year by becoming India’s first junior world champion.