Shaurya Bawa made history for India by securing a bronze medal at the World Junior Squash Championships 2024 on Monday.
The event took place in Houston, Texas, and marked a significant achievement in Indian squash, as Bawa became only the second Indian male to win a medal in the tournament’s history.
Bawa, seeded 17/32 in the men’s singles tournament, ended his remarkable campaign in the semi-finals, where he faced top-seeded Egyptian Mohamed Zakaria. Despite his efforts, Bawa was defeated in straight games, 11-5, 11-5, 11-9, in a 41-minute match.
This milestone comes a decade after Kush Kumar, an Asian Games gold medallist, became the first Indian male to reach the semi-finals of the World Junior Squash Championships in 2014.
Bawa’s journey to the podium was marked by impressive victories. He won his first two rounds in straight games and overcame a one-game deficit to beat Rustin Wiser of the United States in the round of 32. His performance continued to shine as he defeated Argentina’s Segundo Portabales to reach the quarter-finals.
In a gripping quarter-final match, Bawa faced Low Wa Sern of Malaysia. Despite trailing 2-1 after three games, the 18-year-old Indian displayed exceptional resilience, staging a comeback to win 2-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 12-10, thus securing his historic bronze medal.
In the women’s singles event, young Indian sensation Anahat Singh narrowly missed out on a medal. Singh, a two-time Asian Games medallist, progressed to the quarter-finals without losing a game but faced a tough challenge against Nadien Elhammamy of Egypt.
Despite a valiant effort, Singh was defeated in a five-game thriller, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-13, ending her quest for a podium finish.
Bawa’s and Singh’s performances underscore the growing strength and potential of Indian squash on the international stage.
