Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 27 July 2026, congratulated Anahat Singh for winning the gold medal at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championship, calling it a historic feat and noting she is the first Indian squash player ever to claim the World Junior Championship title.

Posting on X, the Prime Minister wrote: 'Proud of Anahat Singh for winning the Gold Medal and becoming the first Indian squash player ever to win the World Junior Championship title. This accomplishment will further popularise squash among the youth.'

Context

Anahat Singh has been a prominent name in Indian junior squash for several years, having represented the country at Asian and international junior events with consistent results. Her gold at the World Junior Squash Championship — the annual under-19 global competition organised by the World Squash Federation — marks the first time an Indian player has topped the individual standings at this level.

The achievement is particularly significant because squash has historically operated in the shadow of cricket and other mainstream sports in India, with a relatively small but growing competitive base.

Policy Backdrop

The Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, was designed to identify and nurture grassroots talent across 20 sports, including squash, through structured funding and coaching pipelines. The scheme has progressively expanded to cover state-level academies and district-level competitions.

The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), broadened in 2018, extended financial and training support to athletes competing in non-Olympic disciplines, a category that includes squash at the highest levels. Together, these initiatives form the backbone of India's push to diversify its medal-winning base beyond traditional strongholds.

Stakeholders and Impact

For young athletes and aspiring squash players across India, Singh's title offers a concrete benchmark — proof that the global junior summit is now within reach for Indian competitors. Coaches and federation officials are likely to use this moment to push for expanded infrastructure and increased sponsorship interest in the sport.

Prime Minister Modi has regularly used individual sporting breakthroughs on X to signal government support and encourage youth participation, a pattern that amplifies visibility for athletes in niche disciplines far beyond what tournament coverage alone would achieve. Singh's gold now enters that select circle of government-endorsed milestones.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to whether state governments accelerate the rollout of dedicated squash training centres under their respective Khelo India projects, and whether Singh transitions into the senior circuit with the same momentum. India's performance at the next senior Asian Squash Championships will serve as an early indicator of whether this junior breakthrough translates into a wider structural uplift for the sport.

If governing bodies and sponsors respond to the Prime Minister's public endorsement with tangible investment, Singh's gold could mark the beginning of a sustained rise for Indian squash on the world stage.