Anahat Singh wins junior world squash title, ends Egypt's 20-year grip
Synopsis
For the first time in history, an Indian has won the World Squash Junior Championship girls' title. Anahat Singh, 18, ended Egypt's decades-long grip on the event with a straight-games final win — and her mentor Saurav Ghosal's heartfelt, humorous tribute underscores just how much groundwork went into this historic moment.
Key Takeaways
Anahat Singh , 18, became the first Indian to win the World Squash Junior Championship girls' title on 26 July 2026 .
She defeated Egypt's No.
2 seed Ruqayya Salem in straight games: 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 .
The win ends Egypt's longstanding dominance of the junior girls' category and surpasses Joshna Chinappa 's runner-up finish in 2005 .
Veteran Saurav Ghosal has mentored Singh since 2024 and praised her in a widely shared social media post.
Singh had previously reached the quarter-final and semi-final stages at earlier junior world events before claiming the title.
Anahat Singh on 26 July 2026 became the first Indian to win the World Squash Junior Championship girls' title, defeating Egypt's No. 2 seed Ruqayya Salem in straight games to end Egypt's long stranglehold on the event. The 18-year-old's triumph surpasses Joshna Chinappa's runner-up finish in 2005 — previously India's best result at the junior worlds in over two decades.
How the Final Unfolded
Singh seized control from the outset, taking the opening game 11-3 with a commanding display. She maintained her momentum through the second game, winning it 11-7 to put herself within one game of history.
The third game, however, provided a nervy twist. Salem rallied to an 8-6 lead, threatening to extend the match to a fourth — and potentially fifth — game. Singh held her composure, clawing back to seal the decider 11-9 and clinch the title.
Ghosal's Tribute to His Mentee
Indian squash veteran Saurav Ghosal, who has been mentoring Singh since 2024, offered a characteristically candid tribute in a social media post. 'The world will see what you produced on the day. You know I don't say it often, but it was good! You finally put it all together when it mattered the most. But the real fight was won before you stepped on court. The work you've put in made the difference,' he wrote.
Ghosal added: 'All the hammering and making fun to get your brain cells working, finally paid off. Thank God for that the body stayed healthy enough for long enough. A lot to be thankful for. You've made yourself proud and done something special for Indian squash. The best thing is there's hope of so much more to come. Let this be another milestone on the journey to something much much bigger. But for now, enjoy yourself. Well done.'
The Road to the Final
Singh arrived at the final in strong form, having recorded a string of victories throughout the tournament. She had previously reached the quarter-final and semi-final stages at earlier editions of the event, making her the first Indian to reach the junior world final since Chinappa's run in 2005.
What This Means for Indian Squash
The victory marks a watershed moment for the sport in India. Egypt has historically dominated the junior girls' category, and Singh's win signals a shift in the global pecking order at the junior level. Ghosal's mentorship programme, which began in 2024, has now produced a world champion — lending weight to the argument that structured elite coaching can accelerate Indian squash's rise. With Singh still only 18, the senior circuit will be watching closely.
Point of View
Particularly the girls' draw, has been near-total for years, and India has never broken through at this level. That it happened under a mentorship model led by Ghosal, who himself spent years as India's lone standard-bearer on the PSA tour, raises an important question: is India finally building a pipeline rather than producing isolated talents? Singh is 18. The senior circuit beckons. Whether Indian squash can now replicate this at the senior world level — where Egypt and England remain dominant — is the real test. One world junior title is a beginning, not a destination.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Anahat Singh and what did she win?
Anahat Singh is an 18-year-old Indian squash player who won the 2026 World Squash Junior Championship girls' title on 26 July 2026, becoming the first Indian ever to claim the junior world crown. She defeated Egypt's No. 2 seed Ruqayya Salem in straight games in the final.
Why is Anahat Singh's win historically significant?
Her victory is India's first-ever junior world squash title and surpasses Joshna Chinappa's runner-up finish in 2005, which had stood as India's best result at the junior worlds for over two decades. It also ends Egypt's long dominance of the junior girls' category.
What was the scoreline in the final?
Anahat Singh defeated Ruqayya Salem 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in straight games. The third game was the closest, with Salem leading 8-6 before Singh rallied to close it out.
What role did Saurav Ghosal play in Anahat Singh's success?
Saurav Ghosal, India's most decorated squash player, has been mentoring Anahat Singh since 2024. He credited her pre-tournament preparation and mental resilience for the win, saying in a social media post that 'the real fight was won before you stepped on court.'
What is next for Anahat Singh after this junior world title?
Having secured the junior world title at 18, Singh is expected to focus increasingly on the senior PSA tour. Ghosal has indicated there is 'hope of so much more to come,' suggesting the junior title is intended as a milestone toward a larger senior career.
