Ontario, July 24 (IANS) Indian top seed Anahat Singh continues her impressive campaign at the 2026 World Junior Individual Championships, earning a well-deserved place in the semi-finals after beating Egyptian Habiba Rizk.
Women’s world No. 20 Anahat defeated Habiba 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 in the quarterfinals. She became the first Indian to reach back-to-back semi-finals in the World Juniors and a firm favourite to win the title.
She will meet another Egyptian, Barb Sameh, in the last-four stage in a bid to become India’s first-ever junior world champion.
Meanwhile, Barb Sameh and Malika Elkaraksy progressed after straight-game victories over Helen Tang of Hong Kong, China, and Belgium’s Savannah Moxham, while Egypt’s No. 2 seed Adam Hawal progressed with a win over Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Alnasfan, winning 3-1.
In the men’s section, Egypt’s Marwan Assal booked his place into the last four in an epic battle against France’s Amir Khaled-Jousselin. He will be joined by his compatriot and No. 2 seed Ruqayya Salem, who progressed after a tough contest against Malaysia’s Whitney Wilson with the match being stretched across five games.
Elsewhere, Seifeldin Refaay [3/4] progressed following a straight-game victory over Maddox Moxham. Refaay, the 2026 British Junior Champion, will take on the No. 1 seed and fellow countryman Mohamad Zakaria in what promises to be an exciting contest.
Quarter-final Women’s Results
[1] Anahat Singh (IND) bt [5/8] Habiba Rizk (EGY) 3-1: 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9
[3/4] Barb Sameh (EGY) bt [5/8] Helen Tang (HKG) 3-0: 11-1, 11-9, 11-7
[2] Ruqayya Salem (EGY) bt [9/12] Whitney Wilson (MAS) 3-2: 4-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7
[3/4] Malika Elkaraksy (EGY) bt [5/8] Savannah Moxham (BEL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-5
World Squash Junior Individual Championships – Quarter-final Men’s Results
[1] Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) bt [9/12] Yaseen Shalaby (USA) 3-0:11-0, 11-7, 11-4.
[3/4] Seifeldin Refaay (EGY) bt [9/12] Maddox Moxham (BEL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-9
[2] Adam Hawal (EGY) bt [9/12] Mohammed Alnasfan (KSA) 3-1: 11-2, 10-12, 11-3, 11-3
[3/4] Marwan Assal (EGY) bt [5/8] Amir Khaled-Jousselin (FRA) 3-2: 11-7, 7-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7
–IANS
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