UP's Yusha Nafees, Unnati Tripathi claim U-19 National Squash titles in Jaipur
Synopsis
Uttar Pradesh's Yusha Nafees and Unnati Tripathi both upset top seeds on the final day of the Sub-Junior & Junior National Squash Championship in Jaipur to claim their first-ever U-19 national titles — a landmark double for UP squash and a signal that Maharashtra's dominance at junior level is facing rising challengers from across India.
Key Takeaways
Yusha Nafees (UP) beat top seed Purav Rambhia (MH) 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 to win the U-19 boys national squash title in Jaipur on 29 October 2026 .
Unnati Tripathi (UP) defeated top seed Akanksha Gupta (MH) 8-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-5 to claim the U-19 girls crown — both were maiden national titles.
Hridhaan Shah (MH) won the U-17 boys final over Shiven Agarwal (TN) in a five-game thriller.
Alia Kankaria (WB) and Inaya Andrabi (RJ) claimed the U-13 and U-11 girls titles respectively, both defeating top seeds in five games.
Titles were spread across UP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi , reflecting growing national depth in junior squash.
Yusha Nafees and Unnati Tripathi of Uttar Pradesh clinched their maiden Under-19 boys and girls titles respectively on the concluding day of the Sub-Junior & Junior National Squash Championship in Jaipur on Thursday, 29 October, both upsetting higher-seeded opponents to complete a standout double for their state.
Nafees and Unnati Seal UP's Double
Second seed Nafees, last year's runner-up, was clinical against Maharashtra's top seed Purav Rambhia, winning in straight games 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 to finally go one better than his 2025 final appearance. In the girls' draw, 3/4 seed Unnati Tripathi produced an impressive comeback against top seed Akanksha Gupta of Maharashtra, losing the opener before winning three successive games 8-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-5 to lift the crown. Notably, Gupta — the dominant force in the draw — had beaten all challengers en route to the final, making Unnati's victory the upset of the tournament.
Key Results Across Age Groups
In a gripping U-17 boys final, Maharashtra's Hridhaan Shah (seeded 5/8) edged Tamil Nadu's Shiven Agarwal in a five-game thriller 11-8, 8-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-2, having earlier stunned top seed and state-mate Shreyansh Jha in the semifinals. The Girls' U-17 title went to Saanvi Kalanki of Madhya Pradesh, who recovered from dropping the first game to beat Karnataka's Riyansika Verma 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7.
At the younger age groups, Alia Kankaria of West Bengal and Inaya Andrabi of Rajasthan claimed the girls' U-13 and U-11 crowns respectively — both defeating top seeds in five-game battles. In the boys' section, Dhruv Johri of Haryana dominated the U-15 final 11-6, 11-8, 11-4, while Aaron Arambhan of Maharashtra secured the U-13 boys title and Delhi's Agastya Uppal won the U-11 boys crown.
Full Results (Finals)
Boys: U-19: Yusha Nafees (UP) bt Purav Rambhia (MH) 11-9, 11-6, 11-6; U-17: Hridhaan Shah (MH) bt Shiven Agarwal (TN) 11-8, 8-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-2; U-15: Dhruv Johri (HR) bt Vedant Agarwal (JH) 11-6, 11-8, 11-4; U-13: Aaron Arambhan (MH) bt Aryan SK (KA) 11-1, 11-7, 12-10; U-11: Agastya Uppal (DL) bt Yuvaan Verma (RJ) 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6.
Girls: U-19: Unnati Tripathi (UP) bt Akanksha Gupta (MH) 8-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-5; U-17: Saanvi Kalanki (MP) bt Riyansika Verma (KA) 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7; U-15: Divyanshi Jain (RJ) bt Anika Kalanki (MP) 11-8, 11-2, 11-8; U-13: Alia Kankaria (WB) bt Riyaa Dalal (MH) 11-13, 11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7; U-11: Inaya Andrabi (RJ) bt Gaurvi Ajmera (RJ) 12-10, 11-5, 9-11, 5-11, 11-7.
What This Means for Junior Squash
The tournament underscored the growing depth of junior squash talent beyond the traditional strongholds. While Maharashtra continued to produce finalists across categories, states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh all claimed titles, suggesting a healthy spread of competition. For Nafees and Unnati, the national crowns serve as significant stepping stones on the pathway to senior representation, with future national and international junior events now firmly in their crosshairs.
Point of View
And UP producing two national champions in the same year signals a genuine shift in the development pipeline. Nafees's progression from runner-up to champion in successive years follows the classic trajectory of a player who has done the work; the real question is whether state associations outside the traditional powers can now sustain the coaching infrastructure to convert junior titles into senior representation. Junior national wins mean little if the pathway to professional and senior international competition remains underfunded.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the U-19 boys and girls titles at the 2026 National Squash Championship?
Yusha Nafees of Uttar Pradesh won the U-19 boys title, defeating top seed Purav Rambhia of Maharashtra 11-9, 11-6, 11-6. Unnati Tripathi, also of Uttar Pradesh, claimed the U-19 girls crown, beating top seed Akanksha Gupta of Maharashtra 8-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-5 in four games.
Where and when was the Sub-Junior and Junior National Squash Championship held?
The Sub-Junior and Junior National Squash Championship was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, with the concluding day's finals taking place on Thursday, 29 October 2026.
Who won the U-17 boys squash final?
Maharashtra's Hridhaan Shah beat Tamil Nadu's Shiven Agarwal 11-8, 8-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-2 in a five-game U-17 boys final. Shah had earlier stunned top seed Shreyansh Jha in the semifinals.
Which states dominated the 2026 Junior National Squash Championship?
While Maharashtra produced multiple finalists across categories, titles were spread widely — Uttar Pradesh won two U-19 crowns, Rajasthan claimed two girls titles, West Bengal took the U-13 girls crown, and Haryana and Delhi won U-15 and U-11 boys titles respectively. This points to increasing depth across states.
Was Yusha Nafees a previous finalist at the National Squash Championship?
Yes, Nafees was the runner-up in the U-19 boys category in the previous year's edition of the championship. His 2026 title win was his first national U-19 crown, completing a journey from runner-up to champion.
