Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan praised Anahat Singh, a teenage squash player, for making history as the first Indian to clinch the World Junior Squash Championship. Anahat, aged 17, secured this remarkable victory in Ontario, Canada, by defeating Ruqayya Salem of Egypt in straight games, breaking Egypt’s 15-year winning streak in the women’s event.
Dhawan expressed his admiration for Anahat’s achievement, highlighting its significance for Indian sports. He described her win as a groundbreaking moment and a source of inspiration for future generations. Anahat, who entered the tournament as the top seed, dominated the final match against Salem with scores of 11-3, 11-7, 11-9, becoming the first non-Egyptian player to claim the women’s World Junior title since 2010.
Anahat’s journey to the championship match included a semifinal victory over Barb Sameh of Egypt, marking the first time in 21 years that an Indian player reached this stage. Her triumph not only signaled her personal success but also represented a significant breakthrough for Indian squash by ending Egypt’s reign of champions since 2011.
In the men’s event, the dominance continued for Egyptian players, with Mohamad Zakaria securing a spot in his fourth consecutive World Junior final by defeating Selfeldin Refaay. Zakaria is set to face Adam Hawal in the final, who advanced after his opponent, Marwan Assal, retired due to injury during the semifinal match.
