World Junior Squash Championship: Bawa assures India of medal, Anahat bows out

The 18-year-old from Delhi becomes only the second Indian male to reach the semifinals after Kush Kumar, who reached the last four stage in 2014.

India’s Shaurya Bawa in action. | Photo Credit: X@WorldSquash

India’s Shaurya Bawa guaranteed himself of a medal as he moved to the semifinals with a hard fought 3-2 win over Malaysian Low Wa-Sern in the World Junior Squash Championships in Houston.

The 18-year-old from Delhi, thus, becomes only the second Indian male to reach the semifinals after Kush Kumar, who reached the last four stage in 2014.

In a thrilling clash that lasted 80 minutes, Bawa was down 6-9 and 7-10 in the fifth game but remarkably saved three match balls to eke out a 2-11 11-4 10-12 11-8 12-10 victory in the boys’ quarterfinals on Monday.

🇮🇳 Bawa saves three match balls to become the first player from India to reach the semi-final for 10 years!

Result: WSF World Junior Squash Championships Quarter-Final

🇮🇳 Shaurya Bawa beats Low Wa Sern 🇲🇾
3-2: 2-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 12-10#WSFjuniorspic.twitter.com/SE4psUH8De

— World Squash (WSF) (@WorldSquash) July 15, 2024

With the win, Bawa set up a semifinal clash with Egyptian top-seed Mohamed Zakaria.

Meanwhile, compatriot Anahat Singh bowed out from the girls’ quarterfinals for a third straight year.

The 16-year-old women’s national champion lost a close five-setter to Nadien Elhammamy, with the Egyptian winning 11-8 11-9 5-11 10-12 13-11.