India’s Top Squash Talent Set to Compete at HCL National Doubles Championship in Chennai

2025-06-09 03:27:10 Sports

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Chennai, May 19, 2025: HCL Group, a leading global conglomerate, in collaboration with the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), announces the second edition of the HCL National Doubles Squash Championship, scheduled from May 20 to 23, 2025, at the Indian Squash Academy (ISA) in Chennai. Following the resounding success of the 2024 edition, this championship reaffirms the growing enthusiasm for doubles squash in India and solidifies its place as a key fixture in the national sports calendar.

The tournament will feature India's top squash talents, including Abhay Singh, Velavan Senthilkumar, Joshna Chinappa, and Anahat Singh, competing for a total prize purse of ₹3,30,000. The event serves as a critical platform for selecting players to represent India at the Asian Squash Doubles Championships, tentatively set for July 4 to 7, 2025.

The inaugural HCL National Doubles Championship in 2024 was a triumph, with Indian players securing two gold medals at the Asian Doubles Championships. Abhay Singh and Joshna Chinappa claimed victory in mixed doubles, while Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar dominated the men's doubles.

Rajat Chandolia, AVP and Head of Brand at HCL, said, "HCL is proud to host the second edition of the National Doubles Squash Championship, a platform to identify and nurture India's squash talent. Last year's event was a remarkable success, with its impact reflected in our players' gold medal victories at the Asian Championships. Guided by HCL's ethos of Human Potential Multiplied, this championship amplifies individual talent through collective effort to drive excellence in sports. We are confident in anticipating another strong performance this year as our athletes prepare to represent India at the Asian stage."

Mr. Cyrus Poncha, Secretary-General of the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), said "The National Doubles Championship plays a vital role in grooming talent for international competition. With strong performances last year, we are optimistic about India's chances at the Asian Championships. This tournament reflects our continued commitment to promoting excellence in squash."

Concurrently, HCL and SRFI, in partnership with the World Squash Officiating (WSO), recently concluded a workshop to enhance India's refereeing system, preparing for squash's inclusion in the LA28 Olympics. Led by Marko Podgorsek, a World Referee and Assessor from Slovenia, the program trained referees on rules and conduct, ensuring high standards. This initiative reflects HCL and SRFI's commitment to advancing squash and elevating India's global presence.

Some of the key featured players in the Doubles Championship:

Joshna Chinappa: At 38, Chinappa is a squash icon with 19 Indian National Championship titles and a Padma Shri award (2024). After recovering from knee surgery, she reached the semifinals of the Monte-Carlo Squash Classic in 2024, showcasing her enduring prowess.

Anahat Singh: At 17, Singh is India's top-ranked women's player, with a career-high world ranking of No. 57 (May 2025). Her 2025 achievements include winning the British Junior Open U17 title and upsetting world No. 28 Marina Stefanoni at the World Squash Championships.

Abhay Singh: Aged 26, Singh holds a world ranking of No. 38 (May 2025) and won his second Indian National title in 2024. His 2024 highlights include gold medals in mixed and men's doubles at the Asian Squash Doubles Championship and the Arjuna Award in 2025.

Velavan Senthilkumar: At 27, Senthilkumar, ranked No. 39 (March 2025), won the Batch Open in Paris and the ACE Challenger Tour 12k in Kuala Lumpur in 2024. A psychology student at Columbia University, he balances academics with a stellar squash career.

Seedings:

Women's Doubles

Anahat Singh & Joshna Chinappa
Pooja Arthi R & Rathika Suthanthira Seelan

Men's Doubles

Abhay Singh & Velavan Senthilkumar
Rahul Baitha & Suraj Chand

Mixed Doubles

Abhay Singh & Anahat Singh
Velavan Senthilkumar & Joshna Chinappa
Rahul Baitha & Anjali Semwal
Suraj Chand & Pooja Arthi

This landmark event underscores HCL and SRFI's commitment to promoting squash in India by providing a platform for emerging and established players to shine.

About HCL Group

Founded in 1976 as one of India's original IT garage start-ups, HCL Group is a pioneer of modern computing with many firsts to its credit, including the introduction of the 8-bit microprocessor-based computer in 1978 well before its global peers. Today, the HCL Group has a presence across varied sectors that include technology, healthcare and talent management solutions and comprises three companies – HCL Infosystems, HCLTech and HCL Healthcare. The enterprise generates annual revenues of over US$13.8 billion with 220,000 employees operating across 60 countries.

About SRFI

The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) was formed to oversee the promotion and development of the sport in India. The SRFI has more than 24 state associations and affiliated units with its headquarters in Chennai. The federation is affiliated to World Squash Federation / Asian Squash Federation, Indian Olympic Association & recognized by Government of India. SRFI has been forging ahead with dynamic plans ensuring promotion, development, and performance of the sport at all levels.