Indian squash continues its remarkable ascent on the global junior stage, and once again, Anahat Singh stands at the heart of it.
The teenage prodigy from India booked her place in the Girls’ Under-19 final of the prestigious British Junior Open 2026, delivering a composed and commanding 3–0 win over Egypt’s Malika Elkarasky in the semifinals.
The scoreline 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 only tells part of the story. This was not just another win, but a statement performance at the world’s most respected junior squash tournament, reinforcing Anahat’s status as one of the most consistent age-group athletes the sport has seen in recent history.
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The semifinal clash carried layers of history. It was a rematch of the British Junior Open U17 final in 2025, as well as their World Junior Championships 2025 quarterfinal, and on both those occasions, Anahat had emerged victorious. Once again, under the bright lights and pressure of the BJO semifinals, she showed why she continues to have the upper hand in this rivalry.
Against Elkarasky, one of Egypt’s most aggressive junior players, Anahat displayed tactical maturity well beyond her years. She controlled the T, absorbed early attacks, and forced her opponent into longer rallies gradually draining both confidence and options. The straight-games win underlined how much Anahat’s game has evolved from flair-driven dominance to calculated, efficient squash.
A British Junior Open Journey Like No Other
What makes this achievement even more extraordinary is Anahat Singh’s unmatched record across age groups at the British Junior Open — a tournament often described as the junior equivalent of Wimbledon in squash.
Her journey reads like a timeline of excellence:
•2019 – U11 Champion
•2023 – U15 Champion
•2025 – U17 Champion
•2026 – U19 Finalist and possibly more to come
Very few players in the tournament’s long and storied history have managed to win titles across three different age categories, let alone reach the final in a fourth. Anahat’s progression is not about peaking early; it is about sustained dominance while moving up the competitive ladder year after year.
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The question now hanging in the air is a tantalising one: can she complete the set and add the U19 crown to her collection?
What stood out in the semifinal was not just the win, but the manner of it. Unlike the long, attritional five-game battles often seen against Egyptian opponents, Anahat finished the job clinically in three games. Her length off the backhand, ability to disguise drops, and calm decision-making in key moments kept Elkarasky chasing rather than attacking. This efficiency reflects the growing influence of Anahat’s exposure to senior-level squash. Over the past year, she has regularly competed on the professional circuit, and that experience was evident in how she managed momentum swings and closed out games without panic.
In junior squash, where emotion often dictates outcomes, Anahat’s composure has become her greatest weapon.
Aryaveer Dewan Falls at Semifinal Stage
India also had representation in the Boys’ Under-17 category, where Aryaveer Dewan enjoyed a strong run before bowing out in the semifinals. Dewan went down 0–3 in his last-four clash, ending his campaign just short of the final.
While the result will disappoint, a semifinal finish at the British Junior Open remains a significant achievement and underlines the depth that is slowly emerging in Indian junior squash. Dewan’s run, combined with Anahat’s consistency, highlights a generation that is increasingly comfortable competing with the world’s best.
The British Junior Open is not just another international event. It is the gold standard of junior squash, a tournament that has historically produced future world champions, top-10 professionals, and Olympic contenders. Performances here carry weight among coaches, sponsors, national federations, and professional circuits.
For Anahat Singh, reaching the U19 final is not a breakthrough; it is a continuation. It confirms that her earlier titles were not age-specific anomalies but markers of genuine elite potential. Few juniors manage the jump from dominance in younger categories to relevance at U19 level fewer still do it with this level of consistency.
As Anahat steps into the U19 final, she does so carrying expectation but also belief. She has already beaten the strongest Egyptian challengers en route, and history suggests she thrives on big occasions at Birmingham. Win or lose, her presence in yet another British Junior Open final reinforces a simple truth: Anahat Singh is not chasing history anymore she is defining it.
For Indian squash, her journey is more than individual success. It is a signal that India is no longer knocking on the door of global junior squash’s elite it is already inside.
