Anahat Singh top-seeded at World Junior Squash 2025 in Ontario
Synopsis
Anahat Singh walks into the World Junior Squash Championships in Ontario as the women's top seed — a ranking backed by 16 pro titles, a 2025 World Cup medal, and a bronze at last year's juniors. At 18, she is simultaneously one of India's most experienced junior players and one of its most credible world-title contenders.
Key Takeaways
Anahat Singh is seeded No.
1 in the women's draw of the World Squash Junior Championships in Ontario, Canada .
The 18-year-old is ranked world No.
20 on the senior circuit and has won 16 singles titles since turning pro in 2023 .
Anahat won a bronze medal at last year's World Juniors and is targeting her first world junior crown.
Aryaveer Dewan is seeded 5/8 in the men's draw after becoming only the fourth Indian to win the U-19 Asian Junior title in May .
India fields a total of eight players across both draws; the tournament runs until 31 July .
Anahat was part of the team that won India's first-ever SWC title at the 2025 World Cup .
India's Anahat Singh has been seeded first in the women's draw of the World Squash Junior Championships, set to begin on Monday in Ontario, Canada, with the tournament running through 31 July. The 18-year-old from New Delhi, currently ranked world No. 20 on the senior circuit, enters as the clear favourite to claim her maiden world junior title.
Anahat's Road to the Top Seed
Anahat turned professional in 2023 and has since accumulated 16 singles titles on the circuit — a remarkable return for a teenager still eligible for junior competition. Her trajectory at this event is defined by last year's near-miss: she reached the semifinals before settling for a bronze medal, a result that sharpens her motivation heading into Ontario.
Her junior pedigree is extensive. She first drew attention by winning the U11 title at the British Junior Open in 2019, and in 2023 she claimed the U15 crown at the same event, defeating Egypt's Sohaila Hazem in the final. That same year, she won the U17 title at the Asian Junior Championships held in Dalian, China.
On the senior stage, Anahat secured back-to-back bronze medals at the 2022 Asian Games — in the mixed doubles alongside Abhay Singh and in the women's team event. She also became senior national champion in November 2023 after Tanvi Khanna retired injured in the final. Most recently, she was part of the Indian squad that won the 2025 World Cup, delivering the country's first-ever SWC title.
Aryaveer Dewan Carries Men's Hopes
Aryaveer Dewan enters the men's draw seeded 5/8, backed by a landmark achievement: in May, he became only the fourth Indian to win the boys' U-19 crown at the Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships. That result has raised expectations for his performance in Canada, where he will look to translate continental form into a global statement.
Full Indian Contingent
India's representation at the World Juniors extends well beyond its two seeded players. In the men's draw, Yusha Nafees, Gurveer Singh, and Purav Rambhia will compete alongside Aryaveer. The women's contingent features Rudra Singh, Anika Dubey, and Saanvi Kalanki in addition to Anahat.
What to Watch
Given her senior-circuit experience — rare for a player still in junior eligibility — Anahat represents India's strongest realistic shot at a world junior title. The draw will be tested as the rounds progress, with Egyptian and Malaysian juniors historically competitive in the women's bracket. All eyes will be on whether she can convert her top seeding into gold when the championship concludes on 31 July.
Point of View
Asian titles, and a World Cup medal, all before she turns 19. What makes her situation unusual is the dual pressure of being both the favourite and a teenager: the world junior title is the one major honour missing from a resume that has otherwise outpaced her age group by years. Aryaveer Dewan's 5/8 seeding, meanwhile, undersells a player who achieved something only three Indians had done before him at the Asian Juniors. India's depth across eight players suggests this is not a one-name campaign — but the world will be watching Anahat.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Anahat Singh and why is she top-seeded at the World Junior Squash Championships?
Anahat Singh is an 18-year-old squash player from New Delhi, currently ranked world No. 20 on the senior circuit. She is top-seeded in the women's draw at the 2025 World Junior Squash Championships in Ontario, Canada, based on her ranking, 16 professional singles titles, and strong junior record including a bronze medal at last year's edition.
When and where is the 2025 World Squash Junior Championships being held?
The 2025 World Squash Junior Championships is being held in Ontario, Canada, beginning on Monday and concluding on 31 July 2025.
What is Aryaveer Dewan's seeding and recent achievement?
Aryaveer Dewan is seeded 5/8 in the men's draw. In May 2025, he became only the fourth Indian to win the boys' U-19 title at the Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships.
Which other Indian players are competing at the World Junior Squash Championships?
In the men's draw, Yusha Nafees, Gurveer Singh, and Purav Rambhia join Aryaveer Dewan. In the women's draw, Rudra Singh, Anika Dubey, and Saanvi Kalanki compete alongside Anahat Singh — a total of eight Indian players across both sections.
What are Anahat Singh's biggest career achievements so far?
Anahat has won 16 professional singles titles since turning pro in 2023, claimed U15 and U17 Asian and British Junior titles, won two bronze medals at the 2022 Asian Games, became senior national champion in November 2023, and was part of India's squad that won the country's first-ever SWC title at the 2025 World Cup.
