Anahat Singh becomes first Indian World Junior Squash Champion
Top seed Anahat Singh beat Egypt's Ruqayya Salem 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-9) on 25 July 2026 at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, to become the first Indian to win the World Squash Junior Championship title.
Summary
Anahat, India's No. 1, defeated second seed Ruqayya Salem in straight games in the women's final of the World Squash Junior Individual Championships. Her win ended Egypt's hold on the junior women's world title dating back to 2011, and bettered Joshna Chinappa's runner-up finish in 2005, previously India's best result at the event. Anahat had won bronze at the previous edition in Cairo. Egypt's Mohamad Zakaria won the men's title for a record third time.
Key facts
- Date / venue
- 25 July 2026, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
- Final
- Anahat Singh (1) bt Ruqayya Salem (EGY, 2) 11-3, 11-7, 11-9
- Record
- First Indian World Junior Squash Champion
- Previous Indian best
- Joshna Chinappa – runner-up, 2005
- Egyptian streak ended
- Egypt had won every junior women's title since 2011
- Men's champion
- Mohamad Zakaria (Egypt) – record 3rd title
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Who became the first Indian to win the World Squash Junior Championship title in July 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Anahat Singh
Anahat Singh won the 2026 women's world junior title; Joshna Chinappa had been runner-up in 2005.
Anahat Singh defeated Ruqayya Salem in the final of the 2026 World Squash Junior Championships. Ruqayya Salem represents which country?
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Correct answer: B — Egypt
Ruqayya Salem, the second seed, is from Egypt; Anahat won 11-3, 11-7, 11-9.
Where were the 2026 World Squash Junior Championships, won by India's Anahat Singh, held?
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Correct answer: C — Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
The championships were held at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (per World Squash). Anahat had won bronze at the previous edition in Cairo.