The British Junior Open delivered squash drama at its finest as Indian sensation Anahat Singh stumbled just one step shy of glory in the girls’ U-17 category. Facing world No. 1 junior Amina Orfi of Egypt, the Mumbai teenager put up a valiant fight but ultimately bowed out in a five-game epic.

Anahat’s path to the final was nothing short of spectacular. Seeded first, she breezed through her quarter-final and semi-final matches, dropping only a handful of points against top contenders. Her straight-sets demolition of England’s Charlotte Ormerod in the last-four clash underscored her supremacy, winning 11-3, 11-4, 11-6.

Sunday’s championship match at the Edgbaston Priory Club was a clash of titans. Anahat drew first blood with a hard-fought 11-9 victory in the opener, her drop shots and boasts leaving Orfi scrambling. The Egyptian responded with authority in the second, powering through 11-7. Anahat’s tactical shift in the third game paid dividends, as she outmaneuvered Orfi for a 12-10 triumph.

Orfi’s raw power overwhelmed Anahat in the fourth, securing an 11-5 edge. The fifth game epitomized high-stakes squash: error-free rallies, diving winners, and a 10-10 deadlock. Orfi’s experience prevailed, snatching the last two points for a 12-10 win and her second straight title.

This silver lining for Anahat caps a breakthrough year, following her gold at the National Games and strong Asian Games showings. Experts like former world champion Dipika Pallikal lauded her maturity: ‘At 16, she’s already competing with the world’s best.’ Anahat remains optimistic, eyeing redemption at upcoming internationals. Her journey highlights India’s surging squash talent pool, with more medals expected on the horizon.