Daijiworld Media Network - Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake (Canada), Jul 21: India began its campaign at the World Squash Junior Championships 2026 on a positive note, with top seed Anahat Singh and several other Indian players progressing comfortably to the next rounds of the individual competition.
Leading India's challenge in the women's draw, Anahat, who is aiming to become the country's first-ever junior world champion, cruised past Australia's Lilly Wilson with a commanding 11-2, 11-1, 11-3 victory to advance without dropping a game.
Saanvi Kalanki also moved into the next round after overcoming a spirited challenge from the Netherlands' Elcke Mols in a hard-fought five-game encounter. Kalanki claimed the opening game 11-9 before Mols twice fought back to level the match. The Indian, however, held her nerve in the decider to seal an 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6 win.
Anika Dubey ensured another comfortable victory for India, defeating Japan's Anna Kuwahara 11-7, 11-3, 11-5, while Rudra Singh advanced after receiving a walkover from Nigeria's Khadija Abdulraheem.
In the men's singles, Aryaveer Dewan, Yusha Nafees and Gurveer Singh, all of whom received first-round byes, successfully progressed to the third round.
Aryaveer defeated Germany's Levi Visser 12-10, 11-6, 11-9, while Yusha produced one of the most dominant performances of the day, overwhelming Brazil's Matheus Frabetti 11-1, 11-1, 11-1. Gurveer also advanced after defeating Ireland's Christian Dromgoole 11-3, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6.
Purav Rambhia, however, bowed out of the tournament after losing to England's Ronnie Hickling.
Elsewhere, defending men's champion and tournament top seed Mohamad Zakaria opened his title defence with a straight-games victory over Macau, China's Wu Cheok Io as he pursues a historic third junior world title.
The World Squash Junior Championships 2026 will feature the individual events from July 20 to 25, followed by the men's and women's team competitions from July 26 to 31 at the same venue in Canada.
India's men's team enters the team championship with renewed confidence after winning a bronze medal in Cairo last year, ending a 13-year wait for a podium finish at the prestigious event.