Anahat Singh felicitated by Sports Min Mandaviya after World Jr. Squash gold
Synopsis
Anahat Singh did what no Indian had done before — win the World Junior Squash Championship women's singles title — and ended a 15-year Egyptian dominance of the event in the process. At 18, with Asian Games 2026 and the Olympics 2028 ahead, she has just redrawn the ceiling for Indian squash.
Key Takeaways
Anahat Singh , 18 , became the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championship women's singles title in Canada in 2026.
She defeated Egyptian second seed Ruqayya Salem 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in the final.
She is the first non-Egyptian winner of the title since Amanda Sobhy in 2010 , ending a 15-year Egyptian winning streak.
The men's junior team of Aryaveer Dewan , Yusha Nafees , and Gurveer Singh won the bronze medal .
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated the squad in New Delhi on 4 August 2026 and pointed to Asian Games 2026 and Olympics 2028 as the next targets.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on 4 August 2026 felicitated India's World Junior Squash Championship 2026 squad in New Delhi, honouring gold medallist Anahat Singh and the bronze medal-winning men's junior team comprising Aryaveer Dewan, Yusha Nafees, and Gurveer Singh. The ceremony marked India's most successful campaign in the history of the tournament.
Anahat's Historic Achievement
Anahat Singh, 18, became the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championships women's singles title, clinching the crown in Canada last week. It was her fifth appearance at the event and her second World Championships medal, having claimed bronze the previous year in Cairo.
In the women's final, Anahat defeated Egyptian second seed Ruqayya Salem 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in straight games — the biggest title of her career to date. Notably, she became the first non-Egyptian player to win the World Junior Squash Championship since Amanda Sobhy of the United States in 2010, ending a 15-year Egyptian stranglehold on the title that had begun in 2011.
Earlier in the tournament, she became the first Indian in 21 years to reach the final, defeating Egypt's Barb Sameh in four games in the semi-final before going on to beat another Egyptian opponent in the summit clash.
What the Minister Said
Interacting with the athletes at the felicitation event, Mandaviya urged the young champions to treat this success as the starting point of a longer journey, with Asian Games 2026 and the Olympic Games 2028 identified as the next major milestones. Congratulating Anahat on her landmark win, the minister said her historic triumph has the potential to inspire millions of young Indians to take up squash.
In a memorable gesture, Anahat presented an autographed squash racket and squash ball to the minister. The event also featured selfies and candid conversations, giving the occasion a warm, celebratory tone.
Team's Return and Official Welcome
The Indian squash contingent touched down in India on Monday night. Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) president Anil Wadhwa, IFS (Retd.), welcomed the team home, describing the campaign as successful and historic.
What Comes Next
With the Asian Games 2026 and Los Angeles Olympics 2028 on the horizon, India's squash programme now enters a critical phase. Anahat's gold — the first by any Indian at the World Junior level — is expected to accelerate grassroots interest in the sport and strengthen the case for greater institutional support. Whether the momentum translates into senior-circuit breakthroughs will be the next test for this generation of players.
Point of View
But a World Junior title at 18, on her fifth attempt, signals a player who compounds. The harder question is institutional: whether SRFI and the Sports Ministry can build a pipeline around this moment rather than celebrate it in isolation. One gold does not make a system, but it can make a generation — if the support structures follow.
NationPress
4 Aug 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 women's singles title at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championships in Canada, becoming the first Indian to claim the gold at this event. It was her fifth appearance at the tournament and her second World Championships medal.
Who did Anahat Singh defeat in the final?
Anahat Singh defeated Egyptian second seed Ruqayya Salem 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in straight games to win the women's final. Salem was the pre-tournament favourite given Egypt's long dominance of the event.
Why is Anahat Singh's win historically significant?
She is the first non-Egyptian player to win the World Junior Squash Championship since Amanda Sobhy of the United States in 2010, ending a 15-year Egyptian winning streak that began in 2011. She is also the first Indian in 21 years to reach the final of the event.
Which Indian men's players won a medal at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championships?
Aryaveer Dewan, Yusha Nafees, and Gurveer Singh won the bronze medal for India in the men's junior team event at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championships.
What did Sports Minister Mandaviya say at the felicitation event?
Minister Mansukh Mandaviya encouraged the athletes to treat their recent success as the beginning of a longer journey, highlighting the Asian Games 2026 and Olympic Games 2028 as the next major targets. He said Anahat's historic triumph has the potential to inspire millions of young Indians to take up squash.
