Anahat Singh Assures Second Straight Medal at World Junior Squash Championships with Semifinal Berth
India's rising squash star Anahat Singh continued her remarkable run at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championships, defeating Egypt's Habiba Rizk 3-1 in the quarterfinals to book her place in the last four and secure a second consecutive medal at the prestigious tournament.
The top-seeded Indian overcame one of the toughest challenges of her campaign with a 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 victory in a high-quality contest that showcased her composure, tactical maturity, and fighting spirit. By reaching the semifinals, Anahat is guaranteed at least a bronze medal, adding to the bronze she won at last year's World Junior Championships.
Her latest achievement further cements her status as one of India's brightest young sporting talents and keeps alive hopes of becoming India's next World Junior champion.
Having comfortably progressed through the earlier rounds, Anahat knew her quarterfinal against Habiba Rizk would present a completely different test. Egypt has dominated world squash for decades, producing multiple world champions across both the junior and senior circuits. Facing an Egyptian player in the knockout stages is often regarded as one of the biggest challenges in international squash.
Anahat, however, looked confident from the opening exchanges. She controlled the pace in the first game, using accurate length and intelligent shot selection to keep Rizk under pressure before taking it 11-7. The Indian raised her level further in the second game, dominating rallies and forcing errors from her opponent to cruise to an 11-5 victory, moving within one game of the semifinals.
Habiba Rizk refused to go down without a fight. The Egyptian responded strongly in the third game, increasing the tempo and attacking aggressively to disrupt Anahat's rhythm. Rizk's pressure paid off as she claimed the game 11-6, reducing the deficit and shifting momentum.
The fourth game turned into the contest everyone had anticipated. Both players produced exceptional retrieving, sharp movement around the court, and attacking winners that kept spectators engaged throughout. Long rallies became the norm as neither player was willing to concede an inch.
With the score finely balanced during the closing stages, Anahat demonstrated remarkable composure under pressure. The Indian produced crucial winners at key moments before closing out the game 11-9 to complete a memorable 3-1 victory. The result sparked celebrations as Anahat secured another World Junior Championship medal.
By reaching the semifinals, Anahat has now guaranteed herself a place on the podium for the second year in a row. She won the bronze medal at the previous edition of the World Junior Championships, announcing herself as one of the world's leading junior players. Returning a year later as the tournament's top seed, expectations were considerably higher.
So far, she has justified that billing with a series of composed performances. Her run to the semifinals reflects not only her technical ability but also her remarkable consistency at the highest level of junior squash. Few Indian players have managed to produce back-to-back medal-winning performances at the World Junior Championships, making Anahat's achievement another significant milestone in her rapidly growing career.
The challenge, however, only gets tougher from here. Standing between Anahat and her maiden World Junior Championship final is another Egyptian opponent, Barb Sameh, who has also impressed throughout the tournament. Egyptian players have dominated the latter stages of junior world championships for several years, making the semifinal another stern examination of Anahat's title credentials.
Nevertheless, the Indian will enter the contest with confidence.
Her victory over Habiba Rizk demonstrated that she has both the technical quality and mental resilience required to compete with the best young squash players in the world.
A victory over Sameh would not only send Anahat into her first World Junior Championship final but also guarantee India at least a silver medal.
Anahat's success at the junior level mirrors her rapid rise in the senior game. Despite still being eligible for junior competition, she has already established herself on the professional circuit and currently sits among the world's top-ranked women's players. Regular appearances on the PSA Tour have allowed her to compete against elite senior professionals, accelerating her development.
That experience has been evident throughout this tournament. Her ability to remain calm during pressure moments, vary the pace of rallies, and close out tight games reflects a maturity rarely seen in players of her age.
The consistency she has displayed over the past two seasons suggests that she is steadily bridging the gap between junior excellence and senior success.
With another World Junior Championship medal already secured, Anahat now has an opportunity to achieve something even greater. A victory over Barb Sameh would take her into her first World Junior Championship final and bring India within touching distance of one of the sport's most prestigious junior titles.
Regardless of what happens next, reaching consecutive World Junior Championship semifinals underlines Anahat Singh's standing as one of the finest young squash players in the world.
But based on the confidence, consistency, and composure she has displayed in Ontario, the Indian will believe her journey is far from over. With history within reach, Anahat now stands just one victory away from a maiden World Junior Championship final and another landmark achievement for Indian squash.
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