Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu congratulated teenage squash star Anahat Singh after she made history by winning the World Junior Squash Championships title. Anahat became the first Indian to lift the prestigious trophy and achieved a major milestone for Indian squash.
Sindhu shared a heartfelt message on social media to praise the young champion. She said she was proud of Anahat’s remarkable achievement and recalled meeting her through Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) in 2022. The badminton star said Anahat’s talent and maturity had impressed her even at a young age.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this young champion, Anahat Singh, for winning the World Junior Squash Championships!” Sindhu wrote on X.
“One of my favourite memories of Anahat goes back to 2022, when I had the opportunity to speak with her through OGQ. Even at that age, what stood out wasn’t just her extraordinary talent, but also the remarkable maturity, composure, and clarity with which she carried herself. It left a lasting impression on me,” she added.
Anahat ends Egypt’s long dominance
Sindhu also expressed confidence that Anahat’s success was only the beginning of a bright future. She said, “I know this is only the beginning. This is the first of many, many big victories to come.”
Anahat entered the tournament as the top seed and justified her ranking with an outstanding performance. She defeated Egypt’s second seed Ruqayya Salem 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in the women’s final to claim the title.
The victory made Anahat the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championships. She also became the first non-Egyptian player to win the women’s title since American Amanda Sobhy in 2010.
Before reaching the final, Anahat defeated Egypt’s Barb Sameh in the semi-finals. She also became the first Indian player in 21 years to reach the final of the tournament.
By beating two Egyptian players in the knockout stage, Anahat ended Egypt’s winning streak in the women’s event, where every champion since 2011 had come from the country. Her historic triumph is expected to inspire the next generation of Indian squash players.
