Anahat Singh: "It means the world" after winning World Junior Squash Championship
"It means the world," Anahat Singh said after capturing the World Junior Squash Championship, a victory that saw her defeat Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem in the women’s final in Ontario. The title is Singh’s first world crown and came in her final junior appearance, a result that the Squash Rackets Federation of India hailed as a milestone for Indian squash.
The tournament culminated in Ontario with Singh overcoming Ruqayya Salem to lift the World Junior trophy, a result described by officials and followers as historic for Indian squash. This triumph represents Anahat’s first world title and arrived as she closed her junior career. The Squash Rackets Federation of India publicly praised the achievement, framing it as the fulfilment of a long-held dream for the nation’s squash community.
In the decisive match in Ontario, Singh’s win over the Egyptian opponent secured the championship and marked a notable high point in her junior tenure. Completing her final appearance at the junior level with the world crown underlines the timing and significance of the result. Observers noted the symbolic value of the victory for Indian squash development, as emphasised by national federation comments.
Singh’s immediate response to the triumph was captured in her words: "It means the world." Those four words were offered as her first reaction after the final whistle, succinctly expressing the personal and broader importance of the title. The brevity of the statement contrasted with the depth of its meaning for both the player and supporters back home.
The Squash Rackets Federation of India hailed the outcome as a milestone for the sport in the country, underlining the wider implications beyond a single trophy. Federation representatives pointed to the win as evidence of progress within India’s junior ranks and a source of national pride. The reaction from the governing body linked Singh’s success to long-term hopes for the game domestically.
For Anahat Singh personally, the Ontario victory delivers her inaugural world-level title precisely as she exits the junior ranks. That timing — securing a world championship in a final junior outing — adds a narrative of culmination to the accomplishment. The result also cements her status among peers and gives Indian squash a headline achievement on the global junior stage.
The triumph in Ontario therefore stands as both a defining moment for Singh and a milestone for Indian squash, celebrated by the Squash Rackets Federation of India as the fulfilment of a long-held dream. The victory closes her junior chapter on the highest note and offers a clear landmark for the sport within the country.