Anahat Singh of India won the girls' singles title at the World Junior Squash Championships on Saturday, July 25 [1, 2].
Singh's victory marks a historic shift in the sport, as she is the first Indian player to capture this championship [1, 2]. Her win also breaks a long period of Egyptian dominance in the girls' junior category, which sources estimate lasted between 13 and 15 years [2, 3].
The final match took place in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada [1, 4]. Singh defeated Ruqayya Salem of Egypt with a 3-0 score [1].
The tournament ran from July 20 to July 25 [4]. To reach the final, Singh faced Barb Sameh in the semifinals, winning with a score of 11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6 [5].
Singh entered the competition as the top seed [4]. Her performance throughout the event culminated in the Saturday victory, establishing a new precedent for Indian squash on the global junior stage [1, 2].
“Anahat Singh is the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championships girls' singles title.”
This victory signals a diversification of power in world squash, specifically within the junior ranks. For over a decade, Egypt has maintained a near-monopoly on the girls' world junior titles; Singh's win proves that the gap in training and talent is closing, positioning India as a primary challenger to Egyptian hegemony in the sport.
