Anahat Singh, top seed, leads India's strongest junior squash squad to 2026 World C'ships
Synopsis
For the first time in decades, India walks into the World Squash Junior Championships as genuine contenders. Anahat Singh — seeded first, world No. 20, and already a bronze medallist — is one win away from becoming the first Indian junior world champion, in a draw left wide open by the exit of four-time defending champion Amina Orfi.
Key Takeaways
Anahat Singh is the No.
1 seed in the women's singles at the 2026 World Squash Junior Championships in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada .
A title would make her the first Indian junior world squash champion, surpassing Joshna Chinappa's runner-up finish in 2005 .
Four-time defending champion Amina Orfi of Egypt is no longer eligible, opening the women's draw.
Reigning Asian junior champion Aryaveer Dewan is seeded 5/8 in the men's singles; Egypt's Mohamad Zakaria seeks a third consecutive title.
India's men's team, bronze medallists in Cairo 2025 , ended a 13-year medal drought and return with the same core.
Individual events run 20–25 July ; team events run 26–31 July ; live on WorldSquashTV .
Anahat Singh, ranked world No. 1 seed in the women's singles, spearheads India's most competitive junior squash contingent in recent memory as the 2026 World Squash Junior Championships open in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, on Monday, 20 July. The individual draws run from 20 to 25 July, with team events scheduled from 26 to 31 July.
Anahat Singh's Historic Bid
The 18-year-old arrives in Canada on the back of a breakthrough 2025, when she became the first Indian in 15 years to win an individual medal at the junior worlds — a bronze. Now seeded first, she is positioned to become the first Indian ever crowned junior world champion, which would surpass Joshna Chinappa's runner-up finish in 2005, still the country's best result in the competition.
Already ranked world No. 20 on the senior PSA Tour, Anahat has collected multiple PSA titles this season, establishing herself among the leading young players globally. A gold in Niagara-on-the-Lake would be a landmark moment for Indian squash.
The Competition India Must Beat
Egypt remains the dominant force in junior squash. In the women's draw, Ruqayya Salem is seeded second, while Malika Elkaraksy and Barb Sameh share the third and fourth seedings. Notably, four-time defending champion Amina Orfi is no longer age-eligible, leaving the women's title genuinely open for the first time in years.
In the men's singles, Egypt's Mohamad Zakaria — the two-time defending champion — is chasing a historic third consecutive junior world title and is the primary obstacle for India's contenders.
Men's Hopes and the Team Events
Reigning Asian junior champion Aryaveer Dewan carries India's men's singles ambitions, seeded 5/8. He is joined in the squad by Yusha Nafees, who was part of the men's team that ended a 13-year medal drought by claiming bronze at the team championships in Cairo last year. The returning pair will aim to go one better in the team event beginning 26 July.
The Indian women's team, meanwhile, will seek to improve on their top-six finish from the previous edition. Defending champions Egypt are favourites to retain both the men's and women's team titles.
Scale of the Tournament
More than 180 players are expected to compete in the individual events, with 40 teams from 24 nations contesting the team championships — underlining the scale of the competition India's eight-member squad faces.
Where to Watch
Live streaming of the 2026 World Squash Junior Championships will be available on WorldSquashTV. The tournament will not be telecast on television in India.
India Squad
Men: Aryaveer Dewan, Yusha Nafees, Gurveer Singh, Purav Rambhia
Women: Anahat Singh, Rudra Singh, Anika Dubey, Saanvi Kalanki
Point of View
However, is structural: Egypt's dominance has rested on a pipeline of champions, and Orfi's absence is the first genuine crack in that wall. If India's coaching and federation infrastructure can convert this window into a title, it signals a shift, not a fluke. The men's team bronze in Cairo deserves equal attention — ending a 13-year drought quietly is the kind of result that tends to precede a sustained run.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where are the 2026 World Squash Junior Championships being held?
The 2026 World Squash Junior Championships are being held in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. Individual events run from 20 to 25 July, followed by team events from 26 to 31 July.
Why is Anahat Singh considered a favourite for the title?
Anahat Singh enters as the No. 1 seed and is already ranked world No. 20 on the senior PSA Tour. She won a bronze medal at the 2025 junior worlds — the first individual medal for an Indian in 15 years — and has collected multiple PSA titles this season.
Who is the biggest threat to India in the women's draw?
Egypt's Ruqayya Salem is seeded second, with Malika Elkaraksy and Barb Sameh sharing the third and fourth seedings. Four-time defending champion Amina Orfi is no longer age-eligible, which opens the draw considerably.
What is India's best-ever result at the World Squash Junior Championships?
Joshna Chinappa's runner-up finish in 2005 remains India's best result in the competition. Anahat Singh's bronze in 2025 was the first individual medal for an Indian in 15 years.
How can fans in India watch the 2026 World Squash Junior Championships?
Live streaming is available on WorldSquashTV. The tournament will not be telecast on television in India.
