Ontario(canada), 25 July (H.S.): India’s top-seeded squash player Anahat Singh created history by reaching the final of the World Junior Squash Championship. She has become the first Indian player in 21 years to advance to the final of the prestigious tournament after Joshna Chinappa achieved the feat in 2005.

In the women’s singles semi-final played on Friday, Delhi-based Anahat defeated Egypt’s third/fourth seed Barb Sameh 11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6 to book her place in the title clash.

Ranked 20th in the world, Anahat had won a bronze medal at the same championship last year. She is now just one victory away from becoming the World Junior Squash Champion. If she wins the final, she will become the first Indian player to achieve the milestone.

After her victory, Anahat said, “I am extremely happy. I played against Barb at the British Junior Open a few months ago, and that match was also very close. I knew that I had to give my best performance to win this time.”

She added, “I could not deliver my best performance yesterday, so it was important for me to prove myself today. I have played in the World Junior Championship four times. I reached the quarter-finals first and then the semi-finals, but this time, reaching the final has made my parents and coach extremely happy. However, my goal is not achieved yet.”

In the final, Anahat will face Egypt’s second-seeded player Rukayya Salem. The young Indian star now needs just one more victory to script a new chapter in the history of Indian squash.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar