New Delhi: Indian squash sensation Anahat Singh etched her name in the history books by becoming the first player from the country to win the World Junior Squash Championships title. The teenage star produced a commanding performance in the girls’ singles final in Canada, defeating Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem in straight games 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 to clinch the prestigious crown.
With the victory, Anahat ended India’s long wait for a junior world title in squash, surpassing the previous best performance by Joshna Chinappa, who finished runner-up in the 2005 edition.
Born in 2008, Anahat hails from a family deeply connected to sports. Her parents, Gursharan Singh and Tani Vadehra, represented the sport of hockey, while her uncle pursued tennis. Although she initially took up badminton after being inspired by Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu, she eventually shifted her focus to squash—a decision that has transformed her into one of India’s brightest sporting prospects.
What began as a casual interest soon developed into a professional pursuit. Anahat announced herself on the international stage at just 14 years of age when she became the youngest Indian athlete to compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Her rise through the junior ranks has been nothing short of remarkable. She first grabbed global attention in 2019 by winning the British Junior Open Under-11 title and followed it up with victories at the European, Dutch and Scottish Junior Opens. In 2021, she lifted the US Junior Open trophy before continuing her impressive run by securing the Asian Junior Under-15 Championship, along with titles in Germany and the Netherlands the following year.
Anahat’s achievements have continued to grow in recent years. In 2025, she was honoured with the Young Player of the Year and Challenger Player of the Year awards by the Professional Squash Association (PSA). During the same period, she also captured a gold medal at the World Cup, two gold medals at the Asian Championships and a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships.
Her latest triumph is being viewed as a watershed moment for Indian squash, as it also brought an end to Egypt’s 15-year dominance in the girls’ singles event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the young champion on social media, describing her victory as a “historic feat.” He said Anahat’s achievement would inspire more young Indians to take up squash and strengthen the country’s presence in the sport on the global stage.
Sports personalities and fans across the country also hailed the teenager’s remarkable accomplishment, calling it a landmark achievement for Indian squash. With this historic victory, Anahat Singh has not only fulfilled a long-standing dream for Indian sport but has also emerged as one of the country’s most promising athletes for the future.
