Sports Minister Mandaviya Felicitates World Junior Champion Anahat Singh, India’s Medal-Winning Squash Team
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday felicitated India’s contingent from the 2026 World Junior Squash Championships, including women’s singles champion Anahat Singh and the bronze medal-winning men’s junior team of Aryaveer Dewan, Yusha Nafees and Gurveer Singh, for their historic performances.
Anahat, 18, scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win the women’s singles title at the World Junior Squash Championships, held in Canada last week. It was her fifth appearance at the tournament and her second World Championships medal, having won bronze in Cairo in 2025.
She defeated Egypt’s second seed Ruqayya Salem 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in the final to clinch the biggest title of her career. The victory also made her the first non-Egyptian player to win the women’s world junior title since American Amanda Sobhy in 2010, ending Egypt’s 15-year winning streak that began in 2011.
Earlier in the tournament, Anahat became the first Indian in 21 years to reach the final of the World Junior Squash Championships after defeating Egypt’s Barb Sameh in the semifinals before overcoming another Egyptian opponent in the title clash.
During the felicitation ceremony, Mandaviya congratulated the young athletes and urged them to view their recent success as the start of a longer journey, with the 2026 Asian Games and the 2028 Olympic Games among the major milestones ahead.
Congratulating Anahat on her landmark achievement, the minister said her historic triumph would inspire millions of young Indians to take up squash. Anahat presented Mandaviya with an autographed squash racket and ball during the event.
The Indian contingent returned home on Monday night after its successful campaign. Squash Rackets Federation of India President Anil Wadhwa, IFS (Retd.), received the team on its arrival and congratulated the players on their achievements at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championships.
