HCL 80th National Squash Championship: Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh emerge as title winners
The HCL 80th National Squash Championship came to an end on Saturday, August 10, with Abhay Singh emerging as the title winner in the men’s category while Anahat Singh triumphed in the women’s category.
The competition was organized by the HCL group in collaboration with the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI). The 80th edition of the tournament was held at the prestigious Bombay Gymkhana Club in Mumbai.
A total of 670 players competed from 25 states with prize money of INR 9 lakh on offer. These players participated in 12 different categories, including Men, Women, and Professional Coach and Masters in the age group of 35-70.
Moving into the details, the men’s category final witnessed an intense battle, with Tamil Nadu's Abhay Singh coming out on top over state teammate Velavan Senthilkumar with a scoreline of 3-2.
On the other hand, Anahat Singh from Delhi bagged a thrilling win over Goa’s Akanksha Salunkhe in the women’s category final, clinching the title with a scoreline of 3-2 in the National Squash Championship.
The men's and women's title winners secured prize money of INR 1.3 lakh each, while the runners-up received INR 75,000 each.
The winners were felicitated by chief guest Kiran Nadar, bronze medal winner at the 2018 Asian Games in the Bridge Mixed team event and gold medallist at the fifth Commonwealth Games. N Ramachandra, a patron at SRFI, and long jumper Shaili Singh also graced the event.
The National Squash Championship also served as an ideal platform for the World Squash Federation’s men’s and women’s World Team Championship, scheduled to be held in Hong Kong in December 2024.
Rajat Chandolia, AVP and Head of Brand at HCL expressed his pride in the success of the National Squash Championship. He said:
“We are setting a new benchmark with every tournament, this time with a record 670 participants from 25 states. We are thrilled to see the growing popularity of squash across India, and the introduction of the Women's Over-35 category received a significant response. As part of our revamped Squash Podium Program, we've introduced several new initiatives such as the PSA Challenger Tournaments, High-Performance Camp for Asian & World Junior Championships, Referee Development Program, and Coach Development Program, all aimed at elevating the sport of squash to new heights. We're proud to promote squash, gender inclusivity, and healthy lifestyles, celebrating not only our champions but also the spirit of Indian squash."
Cyrus Poncha, Secretary General of the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), also had his say:
“We congratulate the winners on their outstanding performance and thank HCL for their unwavering support in promoting squash. The thrilling matches showcased the sport's growing appeal. I am confident that Indian squash has a bright future, and these events will continue to unveil the stars of tomorrow. This partnership has been instrumental in fostering talent, encouraging inclusivity, and taking Indian squash to new heights.”
HCL 80th National Squash Championship: Details of winners and runners-up