“I still feel like I’m dreaming,” Anahat Singh said after becoming India’s first World Junior squash champion on Saturday.
“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 top seed and firm favourite explained.
“This is my last year (as a junior) and my only chance to win it. It means the world.
“So, 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.”
World No 20 Anahat, a bronze medal-winning semifinalist last year, beat Egypt’s second seed Ruqayya Salem 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in the women’s final in Ontario, Canada.
“It’s a historic moment for Indian squash,” said Mr Cyrus Poncha, Secretary-General, Squash Rackets Federation of India. “Anahat has the potential to reach great heights.”
Joshna Chinappa was the first Indian to reach the World Junior squash final in 2005.
“(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.”
Published on Jul 26, 2026
