Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada: Indian squash sensation Anahat Singh created history on Saturday by becoming the first Indian ever to win the World Junior Squash Championship title.
The 18-year-old top seed achieved this monumental milestone by defeating Egypt’s second seed Ruqayya Salem in a commanding straight-game victory (11-3, 11-7, 11-9) in the girls’ singles final held in Ontario, Canada.
Anahat dominated the summit clash right from the start. She stormed through the opening game 11-3, barely giving her opponent room to breathe. Salem put up a stiffer challenge in the second game, but the Indian star maintained her composure to seal it 11-7.
In the high-stakes third game, Salem mounted a brave comeback, leading 8-6 at one stage. However, Anahat kept her nerve under pressure, winning pivotal points to wrap up the game 11-9 and capture the gold medal.
This victory ends Egypt’s 13-year dominance in the girls’ singles event, making Anahat the first non-Egyptian champion since USA’s Amanda Sobhy in 2010. Furthermore, she surpassed Joshna Chinappa’s 2005 runner-up finish, marking India’s greatest performance in the history of the tournament.
