Anahat Singh has already created history by becoming the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championship. But for the 18-year-old, the landmark triumph is not the destination. It is another step towards a much bigger dream — representing India at the Olympics.
Squash will make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, and Anahat is already looking at the road that could take her there. The 2026 Asian Games will be her first major opportunity, with the Continental Games offering one of the routes to Olympic qualification.
“I mean, of course, I think ever since squash has been part of the Olympics, and even before that, it has been every squash player’s dream. The Olympics is every athlete’s dream. Right now, the next two years are really important for me to make sure that I can qualify for the Olympics,” Anahat told India Today in an exclusive interview.
Her immediate focus is on the Asian Games, but Anahat is aware that there are multiple routes to Los Angeles. The Indian teenager, who is currently ranked World No.20, is determined to take the qualification process one step at a time rather than allowing the enormity of the Olympic dream to overwhelm her.
“My first shot is, of course, the Asian Games, but just in case I’m not able to make it through there, there are still other ways to qualify for the Olympics. I think the next two years are about taking it step by step and making sure I’m able to reach the Olympics. If I do, I’m going to put in everything to make sure I can somehow win a medal at the Olympics. That would be a great achievement,” Anahat added.
FROM WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPION TO OLYMPIC CONTENDER
The confidence comes after a breakthrough junior campaign in Canada. At the World Junior Championships in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Anahat entered the tournament as the top seed and lived up to her billing, winning five of her six matches in straight games.
She defeated Australia’s Lilly Wilson in the opening round before getting past Hong Kong China’s Pui Yin Chloe Lo and Malaysia’s Doyce Ye San Lee. In the quarter-finals, she overcame Egypt’s Habiba Rizk 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 before beating Barb Sameh 11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6 in the semi-finals.
The final saw Anahat face another Egyptian opponent in second seed Ruqayya Salem. She made a commanding start, winning the opening game 11-3 before taking the second 11-7. Anahat then held her nerve in the third game to close out an 11-9 win and seal the title in straight games.
The 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 victory made Anahat the first Indian to win the World Junior women’s singles title. It also ended Egypt’s 13-year dominance of the event.
For Anahat, the title was another major milestone in a rapid rise through the international rankings. Earlier in 2026, she won the Squash On Fire Open after defeating then-World No. 10 Georgina Kennedy in the final. That victory helped her become the youngest Asian player to break into the world’s top 20.
ANAHAT NOT WILLING TO TAKE TOO MUCH PRESSURE
Now, however, the challenge is to translate her junior success into sustained success on the senior circuit. And while expectations around her have naturally grown, Anahat is keen to ensure they do not become a burden.
“I mean, of course, there would be more expectations from others and from myself, but I think specifically at this Asian Games, there are still so many top players who are a lot better than me. I’m not expected to win it, so I think at least this time around, I still have an opportunity to go in and play my best squash without taking too much pressure,” Anahat said.
That approach could be crucial as she prepares for the Asian Games and the demanding qualification journey ahead. Anahat knows there will be greater attention on her after her World Junior triumph, but she also understands that her best squash comes when she allows herself to compete without constantly thinking about the consequences.
“With the Olympics in the picture, I think this is my best shot right now. I’m just going to go in and enjoy it as much as I can. I feel like if I take too much pressure, I don’t play too well, so I’m not going to think about it too much. I’ll just go in like it’s any other event, and if I’m able to win it, I get a place at the Olympics, so it’s just an added bonus,” she added.
Anahat has already made history at the junior level. Now, with the Olympic stage finally opening its doors to squash, the Indian teenager has a chance to write another chapter, one that could take her from world junior champion to an Olympic medallist.
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