new delhi, May 24
Indian squash player Aryaveer Dewan became only the fourth Indian to win the Asian boys’ Under-19 title after clinching the championship at the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in Panzhihua on Sunday. The young Delhi-based player produced a dominant performance in the final to secure one of the biggest achievements of his junior career. Seeded 3/4 in the tournament, Aryaveer defeated South Korea’s Jonghyeok Lee, who was seeded 5/8, in straight games. The Indian youngster won the final 11-2, 11-7, 11-9 in just under an hour, displaying remarkable composure and control throughout the match. His victory helped India conclude the tournament with an impressive medal tally of one gold, three silver and four bronze medals. Aryaveer’s triumph marks another major milestone in his rapid rise in junior squash. The Delhi player had already enjoyed success at last year’s edition of the championships when he captured the boys’ Under-17 title. By winning the Under-19 crown this year, he has underlined his status as one of India’s most promising squash talents.
Officials of the Squash Racquets Federation of India praised Aryaveer’s achievement and highlighted its importance ahead of upcoming international events. SRFI secretary-general Cyrus Poncha described the victory as a major confidence booster for the youngster before the World Junior Championships scheduled later this year.
“Truly a magnificent achievement from Aryaveer winning back-to-back titles. This will give him immense confidence going into the World Junior Championships in two months,” Poncha said after the final.
Apart from Aryaveer’s gold medal, several other Indian players also delivered strong performances across age categories at the continental event. Shiven Agarwal finished runner-up in the boys’ Under-17 category after reaching the final. In the girls’ Under-17 section, Anika Dubey secured a silver medal with a runner-up finish.
