INDIA CLINCHES MAIDEN SQUASH WORLD CUP TITLE IN HISTORIC TRIUMPH
Chennai, 14 December 2025: In a landmark achievement for Indian sport, Team India emerged champions of the 2025 Squash World Cup, defeating top-seeded Hong Kong, China 3–0 in the final of the SDAT Squash World Cup held at Express Avenue Mall in Chennai. This marks the first time India has won the prestigious global team title in squash, and the country becomes only the fifth nation ever to lift the World Cup trophy.
The final saw commanding performances across all ties. Veteran Joshna Chinappa, competing in front of a raucous home crowd, opened the scoring with a 4-game victory over Hong Kong’s Ka Yi Lee, showcasing tactical maturity and resilience. Following this, Abhay Singh dominated his matchup with Alex Lau, setting up the title-clinching performance by 17-year-old prodigy Anahat Singh, who produced a composed, authoritative performance to seal the win.
The Indian squad’s road to the title was equally remarkable. In the semifinal, the hosts stunned two-time defending champions Egypt 3–0, with wins from Velavan Senthilkumar, Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh — a victory hailed as a major statement of India’s rising stature in world squash.
The triumph not only signifies a historic first for Indian squash but also positions India alongside traditional powerhouses such as Egypt, Australia, England and Pakistan in the elite list of Squash World Cup winners. The success has been widely celebrated across the sporting fraternity and is expected to boost interest and investment in the sport nationally.
Veteran players and rising stars alike credited the overwhelming support of the home crowd and years of sustained development in Indian squash for this breakthrough performance.
SQUASH: KEY FACTS
- Nature of Sport:
Squash is an indoor racket sport played in a four-walled court using a hollow rubber ball. It can be played in singles or doubles formats. - International Governing Body:
- World Squash Federation (WSF)
- Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Squash World Cup:
- Organised under the aegis of WSF
- Conducted as a mixed-team event, where men’s and women’s singles matches contribute equally to the team result
- Among the most prestigious global team events in squash
- Traditional Powerhouses:
Countries such as Egypt, England, Australia and Pakistan have historically dominated world squash. - Olympic Status:
- Squash has been included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games
- Marks a significant milestone after decades of lobbying by the WSF
INDIA IN INTERNATIONAL SQUASH
- 2025 Squash World Cup:
- Gold Medal (Champion) — First-ever title for India
- India became the fifth nation to win the Squash World Cup
- Previous Best Performance:
- Bronze Medal at the 2023 Squash World Cup
- The 2025 victory represents a major jump from podium finish to championship
- Key Indian Players (Exam-Relevant Names):
- Joshna Chinappa – multiple-time Commonwealth Games medallist
- Saurav Ghosal – former top-10 PSA ranked player
- Anahat Singh – emerging junior world-level talent
- Abhay Singh & Velavan Senthilkumar – consistent performers on PSA Tour
- Significance of 2025 Win:
- Indicates India’s transition from a regional contender to a global force
- Reflects improved sports infrastructure, coaching and junior development
- Enhances India’s prospects ahead of Olympic inclusion of squash