Shaurya Bawa secured a bronze medal at the 2024 World Junior Squash Championships in Houston, Texas. This achievement marks only the second time an Indian male squash player has clinched a medal at the World Junior Squash Championships. Back in 2014, Kush Kumar had previously clinched a bronze.
Shaurya Bawa, seeded 17/32 in the men’s singles event, concluded his tournament in the semi-finals, where he lost to the top-seeded Egyptian Mohamed Zakaria 5-11, 5-11, 9-11. In the quarter-finals, the 18-year-old had secured a thrilling victory against Low Wa Sern of Malaysia with a score of 2-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 12-10, guaranteeing a place on the podium.
In the women’s section, young sensation Anahat Singh missed out on a medal in the women’s singles event. The 16-year-old Indian lost her last eight matches against Nadien Elhammamy of Egypt 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-13.
Egypt’s Amina Orfi achieved an unparalleled feat by winning her third consecutive Women’s Singles title, while compatriot Mohamed Zakaria etched his name as the youngest-ever male champion. Amina Orfi triumphed over her fellow Egyptian Fayrouz Aboelkheir with a score of 11-7, 15-13, 11-5 on the final. Meanwhile, Zakaria defeated South Korean opponent Joo Young Na with a score of 11-6, 11-4, 11-6 in his final.
