Aryaveer Dewan made history by becoming the fourth Indian male to win the Asian boys’ U-19 squash championship in Panzhihua, China. Despite being the 3/4 seed, Dewan dominated the final match, defeating Jonghyeok Lee from South Korea with a score of 11-2, 11-7, 11-9 in under an hour. This victory cements Dewan’s rise in the junior squash circuit after winning the boys’ Under-17 title last year.
The win adds to Dewan’s achievements, positioning him as a promising talent for India in squash. Cyrus Poncha, the secretary-general of the Squash Rackets Federation of India, praised Dewan’s back-to-back titles, highlighting the confidence boost for the upcoming World Junior Championships. India had a successful outing at the championships, securing one gold, three silver, and four bronze medals across different age groups.
In the boys’ Under-17 final, Shiven Agarwal claimed a silver medal, narrowly losing to Nauman Khan from Pakistan in a competitive four-game match. Anika Dubey also earned a silver medal in the girls’ Under-17 category, facing tough competition from Malaysia’s Harleein Tan. Amarya Bajaj fought bravely in the boys’ Under-13 final but fell short against Hong Kong’s Leung Ngo San in a closely contested match.
India’s medalists included Lokesh Subramani, Abhyuday Arora, Shanaya Parasrampuria, and Divyanshi Jain, showcasing the country’s strength in junior squash. Dewan’s triumph in the Under-19 category stands out as a significant achievement, highlighting India’s progress in the sport.
