India’s Anahat Singh made history on Saturday by becoming the country’s first world junior squash champion, defeating Egypt’s Rugayya Salem in the women’s singles final of the 2026 World Junior Squash Championships in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada.Top-seeded Anahat beat second-seeded Salem 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-9) to win the title, ending Egypt’s long run in the tournament.The 18-year-old’s victory was India’s best result at a junior world championships, one step ahead of Joshna Chinappa’s runner-up finish in 2005.Anahart was in control the entire game. On her way to the title, she dropped just two sets in six matches and won her opening three matches without dropping a set.
CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates
The world does not. The 20-year-old PSA Tour senior began her journey with a 3-0 victory over Australian Lilly Wilson. Later, she defeated Hong Kong player Lu Peiyan and Malaysian player Li Yeshan to enter the quarterfinals.Since then, Anahat has defeated three Egyptian opponents in a row. She defeated Habiba Rizk 3-1 (11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9) in the quarterfinals, then defeated Barb Sameh 3-1 (11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6) in the semifinals before defeating Salem in the finals.Her victory also ended Egypt’s dominance in the women’s singles competition. Since 2011, Egyptian players have won the championship 13 times in a row.Anahat also became the first non-Egyptian player to win the women’s singles title at the World Junior Squash Championships since Amanda Sobhi in 2010.Last year, Anahat won a bronze medal in Cairo, ending India’s 15-year wait for an individual medal at the Junior World Championships. This year, she went one step further and became India’s first junior world champion.
