Abhinav sinha

Junior National Squash Champion Anika: These are good times for a sport like squash, which is all set to make its biggest leap in terms of world recognition -- making its Olympic debut at Los Angeles in 2028. With squash set for glory days, many young players are hoping to reap the benefits the sport will get till LA28 and beyond.

Maharashtra's Junior National Squash Champion Anika Dubey is one such player hoping to ride the expected high tide in squash and make a name for herself at the international stage.

Anika, 17, recently won the Under-19 title in the Sub-junior and Junior National Squash Championship played at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai. Having moved up a category, the young player from Pune is looking to excel at the international stage, banking on her experience of playing older players. Having won the junior national title, she will get a chance to play in the Asian and world junior championships and hopes to make that a stepping stone to achieve her ultimate aim of winning medals at the Asian Games and eventually the Olympics.