Pune’s Youngest Squash Prodigy Makes History, Earns Spot in India’s U-19 World Juniors Team
Pune, 10/6/25: One of Pune’s breakout athletes, 15-year-old Anika Dubey, earned a coveted place on India’s Under-19 Girls’ Team for the World Junior Squash Championships, which will be taking place in Cairo this July.
For squash and children’s sports in India, this is a historic moment. After winning the national selection trials, Anika has become the youngest player in Maharashtra to qualify in this category. Currently, she is India’s official No. 2 in the Under-19 girls’ division.
Anika’s story is a reminder that dreams don’t need perfect conditions – just the right kind of belief, effort, and opportunity. Coming from a tier-2 city with limited infrastructure, she still found a way to rise – and now, she’s heading to the World Junior Squash Championships. Her journey reflects something we often see in kids from smaller towns: a deep hunger to prove themselves and the strength to chase their dreams against the odds. “I’ve had the privilege of mentoring Anika and enrolling her in the Chance2Sports program – a step that connected her to the Kanga Kids system, where she could truly grow. What she’s achieved is not just about squash. It’s about what’s possible when the right support meets relentless drive.” Say her mentor and coach, Abhinav Sinha.
Through regular training with SportsSkill, which has a reputation for nurturing the next generation of sports talent, she has now developed into a powerful force. Anika has made it so far through limited resources and hence has to travel between Pune and Mumbai and spends weekends training at Mumbai’s renowned Khar Gymkhana.
Adding further, Abhinav Sinha said, “Anika’s resilience and drive have always been significant, but what’s unique is how she takes on every challenge while maintaining her love for the game.” It has been encouraging to see her develop from an inquisitive novice to an athlete competing on a global scale, and she’s only just getting started.”
Anika’s qualification in the World Junior Squash Championship marks a significant turning point for Pune and underscores the city’s increasing influence on the squash landscape in India. Her story effectively demonstrates what can be achieved when opportunity, discipline, skill, and the right support network are combined.
Anika carries the dreams of a whole city and a generation set to take the globe by storm as she gets ready to represent India in Cairo in July 2025.