Anahat Singh Creates History, Storms into World Junior Squash Championships Final

Indian squash sensation Anahat Singh scripted another memorable chapter in her rapidly rising career by becoming only the second Indian ever to reach the World Junior Squash Championships final. 

The 18-year-old top seed defeated Egypt's Barb Sameh 3-1 (11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6) in a commanding semifinal performance to move within one victory of becoming India's first-ever junior world champion.

With the victory, Anahat emulated the feat achieved by Joshna Chinappa, who reached the final of the tournament in 2005. No Indian has gone on to lift the prestigious women's junior world title, leaving Anahat with an opportunity to create another piece of history when she faces second seed Ruqayya Salem of Egypt in the championship match.

Already assured of at least a silver medal, the Delhi teenager has now bettered her bronze-medal finish from the 2025 edition and reaffirmed her status as one of the brightest young talents in world squash.

Facing Egypt's Barb Sameh in the semifinals, Anahat wasted little time in stamping her authority on the contest. The Indian started with remarkable intensity, dominating the opening game from the very first rally. Her movement around the court and ability to control the pace left Sameh struggling to settle, allowing Anahat to race away with the first game 11-3.

The opening game showcased everything that has made Anahat the tournament's top seed—sharp retrievals, accurate shot placement and the confidence to attack whenever opportunities arose. However, Sameh responded impressively in the second game.

The Egyptian raised her level considerably, disrupting Anahat's rhythm with aggressive attacking play and even producing one of the standout moments of the match when she intercepted Anahat's serve out of the air with a stunning volley winner.

Sameh's improved performance helped her edge the second game 11-8, levelling the match and briefly shifting the momentum. The loss of the second game did little to unsettle the Indian. Instead, Anahat returned to court with renewed purpose and quickly re-established control of the contest. Her movement became sharper once again, while her relentless pressure from the back of the court forced Sameh into a series of errors.

The result was a dominant third game. Anahat repeatedly stretched her opponent across all four corners of the court before closing out the game 11-4, moving within one game of the final.

The fourth game followed a similar pattern. Although Sameh continued to fight hard, Anahat rarely allowed her opponent to build sustained momentum. Mixing powerful drives with delicate drops, the Indian consistently found ways to break down the Egyptian's defence.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/anahat-singh-assures-second-straight-medal-at-world-junior-squash-championships-with-semifinal-berth

She eventually wrapped up the fourth game 11-6, sealing a convincing 3-1 victory and booking her place in the biggest match of her junior career.

The significance of Anahat's achievement extends well beyond the result itself. For the first time in 21 years, India will have a representative in the women's final of the World Junior Squash Championships. The only previous Indian to accomplish the feat was Joshna Chinappa in 2005, long before Anahat began her own journey in the sport.

Joshna's breakthrough marked an important milestone for Indian squash, and two decades later, Anahat has now joined that exclusive list. More importantly, she now has the opportunity to go one step further. No Indian woman has ever lifted the World Junior Squash Championships title, making the upcoming final one of the most significant matches in the country's squash history.

By reaching the semifinals, Anahat had already guaranteed herself a second consecutive medal at the World Junior Championships. Last year, she claimed the bronze medal after reaching the last four, establishing herself among the world's leading junior players. This year's campaign has been even more impressive. Earlier in the tournament, she defeated Egypt's Habiba Rizk 3-1 in the quarterfinals, winning 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 to secure another podium finish.

The semifinal victory over Barb Sameh has now upgraded that guaranteed medal from bronze to at least silver. It also reflects the steady progression Anahat has made over the past twelve months, transforming herself from a semifinalist into a genuine title contender.

Standing between Anahat and history is another Egyptian opponent. The Indian top seed will face Ruqayya Salem, the tournament's second seed, in the championship match.

Egypt has long dominated world squash, producing numerous world champions at both junior and senior levels. Defeating Salem will therefore represent Anahat's toughest challenge of the tournament. However, the Indian has shown throughout the week that she possesses both the technical quality and mental composure required to compete with the world's very best. Her performances have combined aggressive attacking squash with remarkable consistency, allowing her to navigate a draw packed with elite opponents.

Anahat Singh's rise has been one of the biggest success stories in Indian squash over the past few years. Already a Commonwealth Games medallist and a regular presence on the professional circuit despite her young age, she has continued to develop into one of the sport's brightest prospects. Her latest achievement adds another milestone to an already impressive resume.

More importantly, it signals the emergence of a player capable of carrying forward India's rich squash legacy established by stars such as Joshna Chinappa, Dipika Pallikal, Saurav Ghosal and Ramit Tandon. Now, only one match remains.

With a guaranteed silver medal already secured, Anahat will step onto court knowing that victory over Ruqayya Salem would make her the first Indian ever to win the World Junior Squash Championships. Regardless of the outcome, her run to the final has already created history, ending a 21-year wait for an Indian finalist. But for the teenager from Delhi, the journey is far from over. The biggest match of her young career now awaits, with a world title and a place in Indian sporting history on the line.