India, July 25 -- Even as Anahat Singh was taking rapid strides on the professional squash tour, a long-standing goal lingered almost desperately in her mind -- the world junior title. She kept having a crack at it and kept falling short.

By the Niagara Falls in Canada's Ontario, she finally made the leap. And with it scripted history for the country.

Anahat, 18, became India's first world junior squash champion when she defeated Ruqayya Salem of Egypt 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in the girls' final of the 2026 World Squash Junior Championships on Saturday.

The Indian, ranked 20th in the world and seeded No.1 in the event, played every bit like the favourite through the week, showing no signs of pressure or nerves in her quest to upgrade her meda...