Anahat Singh leads as seven Indians move into next round at Junior World Squash Championships

Niagara-on-the-Lake (Canada): India made a strong start to their campaign at the World Squash Junior Championships, with seven players advancing to the next round, led by women's top seed Anahat Singh.

Anahat, who is aiming to become India's first junior world champion, cruised past Australia's Lilly Wilson in straight games, winning 11-2, 11-1, 11-3.

Saanvi Kalanki produced one of the standout performances of the day, battling past the Netherlands' Elcke Mols in a gripping five-game contest. After taking the opening game 11-9, Kalanki saw Mols level the match twice before sealing the decider 11-6 to complete an 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6 victory.

Anika Dubey also enjoyed a comfortable outing, defeating Japan's Anna Kuwahara 11-7, 11-3, 11-5, while Rudra Singh progressed after receiving a walkover from Nigeria's Khadija Abdulraheem.

In the men's singles, Aryaveer Dewan, Yusha Nafees and Gurveer Singh, all of whom received first-round byes, advanced to the third round with impressive wins.

Aryaveer defeated Germany's Levi Visser 12-10, 11-6, 11-9, while Yusha dominated Brazil's Matheus Frabetti with a flawless 11-1, 11-1, 11-1 victory. Gurveer overcame Ireland's Christian Dromgoole 11-3, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6. Purav Rambhia, however, bowed out after losing to England's Ronnie Hickling.

Elsewhere, defending men's champion and top seed Mohamad Zakaria began his title defence with a straight-games win over Macau, China's Wu Cheok Io. The Egyptian is chasing a historic third Junior World Championship crown.

The individual competition at the World Squash Junior Championships runs from July 20 to 25, followed by the men's and women's team events from July 26 to 31 at the same venue.

India's men's team enters this year's tournament with confidence after securing a bronze medal in Cairo last year, ending a 13-year wait for a podium finish at the championships.

With inputs from IANS