Anahat Singh reaches World Junior squash semis, eyes historic title
Synopsis
Anahat Singh is one win away from making history. The Indian top seed has become the first player from her country to reach back-to-back World Junior squash semi-finals, and a title win in Ontario would give India its first-ever junior world champion in the sport.
Key Takeaways
Anahat Singh defeated Egypt's Habiba Rizk 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Junior Individual Squash Championships in Ontario .
She is the first Indian to reach back-to-back semi-finals at the World Juniors.
Anahat, ranked world No.
20 , faces Egypt's Barb Sameh (seeded 3/4) in the semi-finals.
A title win would make her India's first-ever junior world squash champion .
All four men's semi-finalists are from Egypt , with Mohamad Zakaria (No.
1 seed) set to face Seifeldin Refaay .
Indian top seed Anahat Singh stormed into the semi-finals of the 2026 World Junior Individual Squash Championships in Ontario on 24 July, defeating Egypt's Habiba Rizk 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 in a hard-fought quarterfinal. The victory makes Anahat the first Indian player to reach back-to-back semi-finals at the World Juniors — a milestone that underscores her growing dominance on the junior circuit.
Historic Milestone for Indian Squash
Ranked No. 20 in the world on the women's tour, Anahat controlled three of the four games against Rizk, dropping only the third before regrouping to close out the match in the fourth. Her consistency across the draw has made her a firm favourite to go all the way and become India's first-ever junior world champion in squash.
This is the second consecutive year Anahat has reached the final four at this level — a feat no Indian squash player, male or female, has previously achieved at the World Juniors.
Anahat's Semi-Final Challenge
Standing between Anahat and a place in the final is Egypt's Barb Sameh, seeded 3/4, who dispatched Helen Tang of Hong Kong in straight games — 11-1, 11-9, 11-7. Sameh has looked sharp throughout the draw, and the semi-final promises to be a stern examination of Anahat's composure under pressure.
Women's Quarterfinal Results
The other women's semi-final will be an all-Egyptian affair, with Ruqayya Salem (No. 2 seed) edging past Malaysia's Whitney Wilson in a gruelling five-game contest — 4-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7 — while Malika Elkaraksy (seeded 3/4) swept past Belgium's Savannah Moxham 3-0.
Men's Draw: Egypt Dominate
Egypt's stranglehold on the men's draw tightened further as all four semi-finalists emerged from the same country. Mohamad Zakaria, the No. 1 seed, cruised past Yaseen Shalaby of the USA 11-0, 11-7, 11-4, while Seifeldin Refaay (seeded 3/4) and the 2026 British Junior Champion beat Belgium's Maddox Moxham in straight games. Refaay will face Zakaria in what is set to be a compelling all-Egyptian semi-final.
In the other half, Adam Hawal (No. 2 seed) overcame Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Alnasfan 3-1, while Marwan Assal survived a five-game thriller against France's Amir Khaled-Jousselin — 11-7, 7-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7 — to book his semi-final berth.
With Anahat one win away from a historic final, Indian squash fans will be watching the semi-finals closely as the tournament builds towards its conclusion.
Point of View
Long overshadowed by Egypt's near-total dominance of the age-group game. The real test arrives now: Barb Sameh is a different proposition from Rizk, and Anahat has never won a World Junior title. If she gets through, Indian squash will have its most significant junior result since Saurav Ghosal's generation. The pressure of being labelled a 'firm favourite' at a tournament Egypt has historically owned is the story within the story.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Anahat Singh and why is her semi-final run historic?
Anahat Singh is India's top-seeded junior squash player, currently ranked world No. 20 on the women's tour. She has become the first Indian player — male or female — to reach back-to-back semi-finals at the World Junior Individual Squash Championships, achieving the feat in 2026 in Ontario.
Who does Anahat Singh face in the semi-finals?
Anahat will face Egypt's Barb Sameh, seeded 3/4, in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Junior Squash Championships. Sameh progressed after a straight-game win over Helen Tang of Hong Kong — 11-1, 11-9, 11-7.
What would a title win mean for Indian squash?
A victory would make Anahat Singh India's first-ever junior world champion in squash. It would also represent a landmark result for Indian squash at the junior level, where Egypt has historically dominated the draw.
How did Anahat Singh perform in the quarterfinals?
Anahat defeated Egypt's Habiba Rizk 3-1, winning 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9. She dominated three of the four games, dropping only the third before closing out the match in the fourth.
What are the men's semi-final matchups at the 2026 World Juniors?
All four men's semi-finalists are Egyptian. No. 1 seed Mohamad Zakaria will face 2026 British Junior Champion Seifeldin Refaay (seeded 3/4), while No. 2 seed Adam Hawal takes on Marwan Assal, who survived a five-game battle against France's Amir Khaled-Jousselin.
