India’s top seed Anahat Singh finished runner-up in the women’s Under-19 category at the British Junior Open Squash Championships, going down in a tightly contested final at the University of Birmingham on Tuesday.
Competing in her first U-19 final at the prestigious event, the Delhi teenager went down to France’s second seed Lauren Baltayan 9-11, 11-7, 3-11, 9-11 in a match that swung on fine margins. It marked Anahat’s ninth appearance in a British Junior Open final across age groups, underlining her sustained presence at the elite junior level.
Anahat’s path to the title clash was marked by composure and control. In the semifinals, she produced a clinical straight-games victory over Egypt’s Malika El Karaksy, winning 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 in just 28 minutes. The win continued her dominance over the Egyptian, whom she had also defeated in last year’s Under-17 final at the British Junior Open and in the quarterfinals of the World Junior Championships.
Earlier in the tournament, Anahat showcased her depth and adaptability. She overcame Egypt’s Barb Sameh 11-4, 10-12, 11-9, 11-3 in the quarterfinals, before cruising past Malak El Maraghy (11-3, 11-3, 11-6) in the last 16. In the second round, she dismantled Hong Kong’s Wing Kai Gladys Ho 11-1, 11-3, 11-3, having received a bye in the opening round.
The runner-up finish caps a remarkable period in Anahat’s young career. The 16-year-old enjoyed a breakout year in 2025, climbing to a career-high world ranking of 28 in only her second season on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour.
During that run, she claimed wins over two top-20 players, further cementing her status as one of the brightest prospects in world squash. Anahat has also been a consistent presence on the domestic and international circuit.
Earlier this year, she edged former world No. 10 Joshna Chinappa in a gripping five-game final at the HCL Squash Indian Tour 4 in Chennai. The two also met in another marathon encounter at the SRFI Indian Open in Indore in November, where Anahat prevailed in five games to lift her 13th PSA title.