Four Indians reach finals at 33rd Asian Junior Squash in Panzhihua
Synopsis
India sent four junior squash players into finals at the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in Panzhihua, China — across U-19, U-17, and U-13 categories. Two of the four, Anika Dubey and Amarya Bajaj, were bronze medallists last year and are now one win away from gold, signalling a generational step up for Indian junior squash.
Key Takeaways
Aryaveer Dewan (U-19 Boys, seeded 3/4) defeated Malaysian top seed Nickhileswar Moganasundharam 11-6, 11-4, 3-11, 11-6 to reach the final.
Shiven Agarwal (U-17 Boys) beat fellow Indian Lokesh Subramani and will face Pakistan's Nauman Khan in the final.
Anika Dubey (U-17 Girls, seeded 3/4) advanced after her opponent retired; she faces Malaysian top seed Harleein Tan for gold.
Amarya Bajaj (U-13 Boys, seeded 3/4) beat Malaysian second seed Muhammad Sharhan Mohd Saiful and meets Leung Ngo San of Hong Kong in the final.
Both Anika Dubey and Amarya Bajaj were bronze medallists in their respective categories at last year's edition.
Aryaveer Dewan, Shiven Agarwal, Anika Dubey, and Amarya Bajaj all advanced to the finals of their respective categories at the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in Panzhihua, China, on Saturday, 23 May. India's strong semifinal sweep puts four players in title contention across three age groups at one of Asia's most competitive junior squash events.
Aryaveer Dewan eyes U-19 crown
Aryaveer Dewan, seeded 3/4 in the boys' U-19 draw, produced a commanding semifinal performance, defeating Malaysian top seed Nickhileswar Moganasundharam 11-6, 11-4, 3-11, 11-6 in four games. Notably, Aryaveer had previously beaten the same opponent for the U-17 title last year, underscoring his consistency against top-ranked Malaysian competition. He will face either Md Alnasafan of Saudi Arabia or Jonghyeok Lee of South Korea in the final.
Shiven Agarwal sets up all-India-vs-Pakistan U-17 final
Shiven Agarwal, seeded 5/8, edged fellow Indian Squash Academy trainee Lokesh Subramani in a tightly contested four-game semifinal — 4-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9 — setting up an India-versus-Pakistan final. Shiven will face Pakistan's 9/16 seed Nauman Khan for the boys' U-17 title.
Anika Dubey goes one better than last year
Anika Dubey, seeded 3/4 in the girls' U-17 category, reached the final after her semifinal opponent Jinoreeka Ning Manivannan of Malaysia retired midway through their match, with the scoreline reading 9-11, 3-2 at the time of retirement. Anika, a bronze medallist in this age group last year, will now battle Malaysian top seed Harleein Tan for the gold.
Amarya Bajaj storms into U-13 final
Amarya Bajaj, seeded 3/4 and another bronze medallist from last year's U-13 boys' event, defeated Malaysian second seed Muhammad Sharhan Mohd Saiful in four close games — 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8 — to secure his place in the final. He will take on top seed Leung Ngo San of Hong Kong for the title.
Full semifinal results involving Indians
U-19 Boys: 3/4-Aryaveer Dewan bt 1-Nickhileswar Moganasundharam (Malaysia) 11-6, 11-4, 3-11, 11-6.
U-17 Boys: 5/8-Shiven Agarwal bt 5/8-Lokesh Subramani 4-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9. U-17 Girls: 3/4-Anika Dubey bt 2-Jinoreeka Ning Manivannan (Malaysia) 9-11, 3-2 retd.
U-13 Boys: 3/4-Amarya Bajaj bt 2-Muhammad Sharhan Mohd Saiful (Malaysia) 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8. Also: 1-Leung Ngo San (Hong Kong) bt 3/4-Abhyuday Arora 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-4. U-13 Girls: 1-Kareena Sashikumar (Singapore) bt 3/4-Shanaya Parasrampuria 11-5, 11-6, 13-11; 3/4-Rio Yoshino (Japan) bt 2-Divyanshi Jain 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 4-11, 12-10.
With four finalists across three categories, India's junior squash pipeline looks increasingly robust. The finals will determine whether this generation can convert semifinal promise into Asian gold.
Point of View
With Shiven Agarwal and Lokesh Subramani both being academy trainees who met each other in the semis. What stands out is the pattern of progression: Dubey and Bajaj were bronze medallists last year and are now in gold-medal matches, suggesting a maturing pipeline rather than one-off performances. The harder question is whether India's squash ecosystem — coaching depth, tournament exposure, and funding — can sustain this momentum into the senior circuit, where the country has historically struggled to replicate junior success.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which four Indians reached the finals at the 33rd Asian Junior Squash Championships?
Aryaveer Dewan (U-19 Boys), Shiven Agarwal (U-17 Boys), Anika Dubey (U-17 Girls), and Amarya Bajaj (U-13 Boys) all advanced to the finals of their respective categories at the championships held in Panzhihua, China, on 23 May.
Who will Aryaveer Dewan face in the U-19 Boys final?
Aryaveer Dewan will face either Md Alnasafan of Saudi Arabia or Jonghyeok Lee of South Korea in the U-19 Boys final. He reached the final by defeating Malaysian top seed Nickhileswar Moganasundharam 11-6, 11-4, 3-11, 11-6.
What is the significance of Anika Dubey and Amarya Bajaj reaching the finals?
Both Anika Dubey and Amarya Bajaj were bronze medallists in their respective categories at last year's Asian Junior Championships. Reaching the finals this year marks a clear step up, putting them in contention for gold medals.
Who does Shiven Agarwal play in the U-17 Boys final?
Shiven Agarwal will face Pakistan's 9/16 seed Nauman Khan in the U-17 Boys final. Agarwal, seeded 5/8, beat fellow Indian Squash Academy trainee Lokesh Subramani in a four-game semifinal to advance.
Where are the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships being held?
The championships are being held in Panzhihua, China. The semifinals took place on 23 May, with the finals scheduled to follow.
