Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday, 26 July 2026, congratulated Indian squash player Anahat Singh for becoming the first Indian to win a junior world squash title, calling her victory a source of inspiration for every young girl in the country. Singh clinched the World Junior Squash Championship 2026 title with a dominant 3-0 win in the final.

Posting on X, CM Gupta wrote — translated from Hindi — 'Bharat ki beti Anahat Singh ne itihas rach diya hai!' ('India's daughter Anahat Singh has made history!'). She extended her 'heartfelt congratulations' to Singh and expressed hope that 'this victory will give every daughter of the country the confidence to dream big and make those dreams come true.'

Context

Anahat Singh secured the World Junior Squash Championship 2026 title with a commanding 3-0 victory in the final, making her the first Indian squash player — male or female — to win the junior world title. The championship is organised under the World Squash Federation and is regarded as the most prestigious international title in junior squash.

Singh had already drawn national attention in previous years as a teenage prodigy on the professional squash circuit, representing India at senior events while still in her junior years. Her world title marks a landmark moment for Indian squash, a sport that has historically struggled for mainstream visibility in a cricket-dominated sporting culture.

Policy Backdrop

India's push into non-cricket sports has been shaped significantly by the Khelo India scheme, launched in 2017, which funds grassroots talent identification and training across disciplines including racquet sports. National sports policy updates in the 2010s placed emphasis on international exposure and infrastructure development for emerging sports such as squash.

State governments, including Delhi, have increasingly aligned with central schemes to develop sports academies and support young athletes. CM Gupta's public acknowledgement of Singh's achievement fits a broader pattern of political leaders using individual international breakthroughs to signal commitment to sports development and women's empowerment.

Stakeholders and Impact

Singh's title is expected to lift the profile of squash among young athletes, particularly girls, across India. Sports bodies and coaches in the squash ecosystem are likely to see increased interest in the sport at the grassroots level following a world title win.

For Delhi specifically, the moment offers an opportunity to expand squash infrastructure and academies in the capital. Women athletes and advocates have welcomed the win as a milestone that reinforces the case for greater investment in non-cricket disciplines at both state and national levels.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to Anahat Singh's trajectory on the senior professional circuit, where she is expected to carry the momentum of her world junior title into higher-ranked tournaments. Observers will also watch for any state-level policy announcements from the Delhi government regarding expanded squash facilities or athlete support programmes.

At the national level, Singh's historic win may prompt fresh conversations about increasing funding for squash under schemes like Khelo India, and whether India can now mount a credible challenge at the senior World Squash Championships in the coming years.