Rajasthan squash academy

Indian Junior Open Squash Championships: Promising youngster Yusha Nafees, who played a key role in helping the Indian boys’ team win bronze at the Asian Junior Team Championships earlier this year, underlined his growing potential by clinching the boys’ U-19 crown in the Indian Junior Open Squash Championships in Jaipur on Saturday.

Playing at the Rajasthan Squash Academy, Nafees showcased remarkable grit as he rallied from two games down to beat Rachit Shah in a five-game thriller. After conceding the opening two games 8-11, 5-11, Nafees bounced back strongly to win the next three 11-8, 11-5, 11-2 and seal the title in front of a packed home crowd.

The week-long premier competition, which attracted an impressive 520 entries across 12 events, witnessed high-quality squash from India’s brightest young talents. Adding to the host nation’s success, Rudra Singh clinched the girls’ U-19 title, overcoming Vyomika Khandelwal 11-7, 13-11, 11-2 in straight games. Singh’s dominance, particularly in the second game where she held her nerve in a tight finish, underlined her composure and maturity at the highest junior level.