- 48 players from 11 countries competed at the Indian Squash Academy, Chennai
- Velavan Senthilkumar won the men’s title; Anahat Singh claimed the women’s crown
Chennai, December 05, 2025: The Chennai leg of the HCL Squash Indian Tour 2025, a PSA Challenger event, concluded today at the Indian Squash Academy after five days of high-intensity competition. From 1–5 December, athletes from 11 countries, including Egypt, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, France, Japan and India, displayed exceptional grit, athleticism and control. Thiru V. Manikandan, District Revenue Officer and General Manager (Admin), SDAT, attended the finale as the Chief Guest.
In the women’s final, Anahat Singh of India defeated Joshna Chinappa, also from India, with a 3-2 scoreline of 11-8, 11-13, 11-13, 11-6, 11-8. Anahat closed the match with sharp movement and remarkable composure, sealing a hard-fought victory against the experienced Chinappa.
In the men’s final, Velavan Senthilkumar of India overcame Adam Hawal of Egypt with a 3-1 win, scoring 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4. Velavan showcased pace, precision and tactical command to secure the title in front of the home crowd.
The PSA-registered tournament offered a prize purse of USD 15,000 each for the men’s and women’s categories, along with valuable ranking points for athletes aiming to elevate their international standings.
Rajat Chandolia, AVP & Head – Brand Strategy, HCL Group said: “The Chennai leg has added a strong momentum to this year’s HCL Squash Indian Tour. Across cities, the Tour has brought together outstanding performances and emerging talent. At HCL, we are committed to giving athletes competitive opportunities that help them advance confidently on the global stage, including the 2028 Olympics. Our partnership with SRFI continues to expand these pathways.”
Cyrus Poncha, Secretary General of the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) added: “The HCL Squash Indian Tour has become a key platform for young Indian players to gain ranking points and international match experience. With consistent support from HCL and SAI, we are building a strong pipeline of athletes prepared for future Olympic-level competition.”
With the Chennai leg, the Tour continued its multi-city schedule building on earlier competitions in Jaipur, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The Tour delivered high-quality squash, showcased new champions and offered players meaningful competitive exposure. Made possible through the combined efforts of HCL, SRFI, SAI and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, it continues to motivate India’s next generation of athletes ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
HCL and SRFI have jointly hosted more than 40 tournaments, benefitting over 1,000 Indian players, many of whom have progressed to the PSA World Tour, showing how sustained investment is reshaping the future of Indian squash.
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About HCL
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$14.2 billion with 226,600 employees operating across 60 countries. For further information, visit www.hcl.com
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.
