Ontario, July 27 -- Every sport has a defining moment that changes its trajectory. For Indian squash, that moment arrived in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, where 18-year-old Anahat Singh became the country's first-ever world junior champion, defeating Egypt's Ruqayya Salem in the final.
It was more than just a gold medal. It was the end of Egypt's 16-year dominance at the World Junior Squash Championships and the beginning of a new chapter for Indian squash.
India has long produced world-class squash players. From Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal to Saurav Ghosal and the current crop led by Ramit Tandon and Velavan Senthilkumar, the country has consistently challenged the world's best.
Yet one prize remained frustratingly out of reach. ...