India men reach World Junior Squash semis with 2-1 win over England
Synopsis
India's men upset third-seeded England 2-1 to reach back-to-back World Junior Squash Team Championship semifinals, with Gurveer Singh clinching the decider. The women's side, despite a strong opener from reigning World Junior Champion Anahat Singh, fell 1-2 to the USA. India's men now face the USA with a bronze from last year to improve on.
Key Takeaways
India's men (fifth seeds) defeated third-seeded England 2-1 on 30 July in Ontario to reach the World Junior Squash Team Championships semifinals for the second consecutive year.
Gurveer Singh clinched the decisive rubber in straight games over George Griffiths ; Aryaveer Dewan won the first rubber and Yusha Nafees lost a five-game match.
India's men face the USA in the semifinals and are targeting better than their bronze medal finish from the previous edition.
India's women lost 1-2 to the USA in the quarterfinals despite Anahat Singh — the reigning World Junior Champion — winning her opening rubber.
France's men reached the semifinal for the first time in 26 years , beating sixth-seeded Malaysia 2-0 .
Defending women's champions Egypt advanced with a 3-0 sweep of Australia and will face the USA in the semis.
India's men's squash team, seeded fifth, advanced to the semifinals of the World Squash Junior Team Championships in Ontario on 30 July with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over third-seeded England — marking their second consecutive semifinal appearance at the tournament. The women's team, however, exited in the quarterfinals, losing 1-2 to the United States.
How the Men Sealed It
Aryaveer Dewan put India ahead with a win in the opening rubber, before Yusha Nafees dropped a gruelling five-game thriller to Ismail Khalil, levelling the tie at 1-1. The decider fell to Gurveer Singh, who delivered under pressure with a straight-games victory over George Griffiths to send India through.
India will now face the United States in the semifinals — the same side that eliminated the Indian women — after the Americans defeated eighth-seeded Japan to progress. India will be looking to go one step further than their bronze medal finish at last year's edition.
Women's Exit: USA Come from Behind
The Indian women made a strong start when Anahat Singh — the reigning World Junior Champion and India's No. 1 string — defeated Diya Yadav in straight games to give India the early lead. However, Charlotte Sze levelled the tie for the USA with a commanding 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 victory over Rudra Singh.
With momentum swinging firmly toward the Americans, Lily Bourell sealed the USA's semifinal berth at the third-string position, beating Anika Dubey in straight games. The USA women will now face defending champions Egypt, who swept Australia 3-0 in their quarterfinal.
France Make History, Other Results
One of the standout stories of the quarterfinals was France's men's team, who reached the World Squash Junior Team Championships semifinal for the first time in 26 years — their last appearance at this stage dating back to 2000. They achieved the feat by defeating sixth-seeded Malaysia 2-0.
On the women's side, second-seeded Hong Kong, China continued their title charge with a convincing win over hosts Canada. They will meet fourth-seeded Malaysia in the semifinals, after Malaysia eliminated sixth-seeded England.
What's Next
The men's semifinal between India and the USA sets up a compelling contest, with India carrying the motivation of bettering their bronze-medal run from the previous edition. A win would put them in contention for their first gold at this level. All eyes will also be on whether Anahat Singh can contribute further should India's women find a path back through any consolation rounds.
Point of View
The same team that eliminated the women's side, which adds a pointed edge to the matchup. Anahat Singh winning her rubber even in a losing cause underlines her class, but the women's inability to convert that early advantage into a team win points to a depth gap that Indian squash will need to address. France's 26-year wait ending is the tournament's most underreported subplot.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India's men qualify for the World Junior Squash Team Championships semifinals?
Yes, India's fifth-seeded men's team beat third-seeded England 2-1 on 30 July in Ontario to reach the semifinals — their second consecutive appearance at this stage. They will face the United States in the last four.
Who won the decisive rubber for India against England?
Gurveer Singh won the deciding third rubber in straight games against George Griffiths. Aryaveer Dewan had won the first match, while Yusha Nafees lost a five-game contest to Ismail Khalil to level the tie.
Why did India's women lose to the USA in the quarterfinals?
India's women lost 1-2 despite Anahat Singh winning the opening rubber. Charlotte Sze levelled for the USA and Lily Bourell won the decider in straight games, knocking India out. The USA now face defending champions Egypt in the semifinals.
Who is Anahat Singh?
Anahat Singh is India's top-ranked junior squash player and the reigning World Junior Champion. She won her quarterfinal rubber against the USA but India still lost the team tie 1-2.
What is the significance of France reaching the men's semifinals?
France's men reached the World Junior Squash Team Championships semifinal for the first time in 26 years, since 2000, after defeating sixth-seeded Malaysia 2-0 — one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
