World junior squash championships: Shaurya Bawa assures India of a medal

Shaurya Bawa reaches World Junior Squash Championships semifinals, Anahat Singh bows out in quarterfinals.

Shaurya Bawa became only the second Indian male after Kush Kumar (in 2014) to reach the semifinals of the World junior squash championships in Houston on Monday.

The 18-year-old from Delhi, seeded 17/32, rallied to beat Malaysia’s Low Wa-Sern (17/32) 2-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 12-10 in the boys’ quarterfinals to assure India of a medal.

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 for victory. Bawa will meet Egyptian top-seed Mohamed Zakaria in the last-four stage.

Meanwhile, compatriot Anahat Singh (5/8) bowed out in the girls’ quarterfinals for the third straight year. The 16-year-old National women’s champion lost a close five-setter to Nadien Elhammamy (3/4), the Egyptian winning 11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 10-12, 13-11.