After coming shut thrice prior to now, India’s teenage squash prodigy Anahat Singh lastly ended her quest for successful a medal on the prestigious World Junior Championships as she beat Egypt’s Mallika Elkaraksy within the quarterfinals in New Cairo on Thursday. The 11-6 13-11 11-5 win took Anahat into the semifinals, which assures her a spot on the rostrum. She is the primary Indian feminine WJC semi-finalist since 2010, in line with World Squash.
After a bye within the opening spherical, Anahat defeated Joelle Kim of Canada 11-4, 11-4, 11-2 within the spherical of 64. Within the subsequent spherical, she ovecame Ines Guyot of France much more comfortably, 11-1 11-6 11-1. The prequarterfinals noticed the Indian beat Brazil’s Laura Da Silva 11-5 11-2 11-6. In her first Egyptian take a look at on Thursday in opposition to Elkaraksy, Anahat was lastly pushed, particularly within the second sport, however she prevailed 13-11 to make sure her run of not dropping a sport continued on.
In an interview with The Indian Specific earlier this yr, Anahat had mentioned that she’s going to strategy this yr’s World Juniors with a mindset of successful the title and never simply wanting a medal. “I want to show these quarterfinal finishes right into a win. This time I’m going into the event aiming to win. Not specializing in simply successful a medal anymore, it doesn’t appear to be understanding if I’m considering like that! If I’m alleged to win it, I’m alleged to win it now.” Her mentor and Indian legend Saurav Ghosal accredited. “I’m glad she is considering that approach.”
Anahat will subsequent face a well-known foe in Nadien Elhammamy, the Egyptian who ended her run within the final eight within the 2024 version. However Anahat had overwhelmed Elhammamy within the spherical of 16 in 2023.
After her quarterfinal win, Anahat instructed Squash TV that she was glad to finish the streak of quarterfinal exits. “I’m actually, actually completely satisfied. The World Juniors is one thing actually particular to me. I’ve misplaced within the quarters for 3 years in a row, and I’m actually glad I used to be capable of attain the semis this time.”
The most important problem in squash at any degree is taking up Egyptians, and Anahat has to beat two extra gamers from the powerhouse if she has to realize her dream of successful the gold. “Egyptians are dominating proper now so each event is like this the place I’m all the time taking part in Egyptians in lots of matches. However she’s simply one other opponent for me, it doesn’t actually matter which nation she’s from however I imply she’s nonetheless actually younger, and he or she’s doing nicely, she’s an incredible participant and I’m actually glad I used to be capable of win right this moment.”
🇮🇳 @indiasquash‘s first feminine World Championship semi-finalist since 2010! 👏
Outcome: 2025 World Squash Junior Championships Ladies’s QF
🇮🇳 [2] Anahat Singh beats [5/8] Malika Elkaraksy 🇪🇬
3-0: 11-6, 13-11, 11-5#WorldJuniorsSquash pic.twitter.com/qmDms0G8AY— World Squash (@WorldSquash) July 24, 2025
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Anahat has lately began transitioning to the senior PSA circuit whereas competing on the main junior occasions just like the Worlds and British Open (which she received earlier this yr). “There’s a large distinction (within the two ranges), as a result of after I’m taking part in a junior event I anticipate so much from myself going into it. Once I’m taking part in seniors it’s extra of simply entering into and taking part in my greatest as a result of most people taking part in are higher than me. So it’s a lot completely different and the stress can also be fairly completely different as nicely however yeah I imply I’m studying to love overcome it.”
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Coincidentally, it was Elkarasky that Anahat had defeated within the British Open closing this yr. After the third sport, she was in bother, trailing 1-2. As she got here out of the courtroom in Birmingham earlier than the fourth sport began, Ghosal was upset, not as a result of she was shedding the ultimate however as a result of he was sure Anahat wasn’t taking part in to the extent she was able to. “Initially, simply nothing was understanding,” Anahat had mentioned. “Once I got here out of the courtroom after the third sport after I was 1-2 down, he was fairly indignant with me. That was one purpose I began taking part in higher.” However on Thursday, she was capable of end the job in three video games.
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