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India clinch maiden Squash World Cup title
The Indian team became fifth nation to win a major World Squash team event.
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IANS - Mon, 15, Dec 2025
- 00:19 EST
- 14
The victory placed India alongside Australia, Egypt, England and Pakistan as the only nations to have won a major World Squash team championship. / IANS
Hosts India were crowned Squash World Cup champions for the first time after registering a commanding 3-0 victory over top seeds Hong Kong, China, in the final at Express Avenue Mall in Chennai on Dec. 14.
The victory marked a significant moment for Indian squash, with the team becoming only the fifth nation to win a major World Squash team event.
The mixed-team World Cup featured 12 teams from around the world. India entered the final eager to move past the disappointment of a semifinal exit in 2023, which had also taken place on the same court. Backed by a lively home crowd, the hosts delivered an excellent performance to secure the title.
Veteran Joshna Chinappa set the tone in the opening match by defeating Ka Yi Lee in four games. Despite Lee’s higher world ranking, the 39-year-old Chennai native dominated most of the match, overcoming a brief challenge in the second game to win 7-3, 2-7, 7-5, 7-1.
India doubled their lead through Abhay Singh, who produced a strong performance against Alex Lau. The Chennai player, who had a favorable head-to-head record against Lau, controlled the match with aggressive play and precise shot-making, wrapping up a 7-1, 7-4, 7-4 win in just 19 minutes.
With the title at stake, 17-year-old Anahat Singh stepped up against Tomato Ho. The Delhi teenager, who first gained attention at the 2022 Commonwealth Games at age 14, showed impressive composure and skill, outplaying her opponent 7-2, 7-2, 7-5 to secure India’s place in the history books.
The victory placed India alongside Australia, Egypt, England and Pakistan as the only nations to have won a major World Squash team championship.
Reflecting on the win, Chinappa said, “It feels great playing here in Chennai. I am still so thankful that I can still be a part of the India national team. It has always been my biggest motivation to keep playing and keep training to play for India.
“Playing here in Chennai with the home support and crowd supporting us, I felt like that made all of the difference. So thank you so much to everyone who came out, who supported us and who cheered. We really appreciate you.”
Abhay Singh added, “An unbelievable evening. What more can I say? I am so privileged to be able to do this with some really legendary teammates, and what an end to the year and what a week.
“I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who came out today. I think the crowd was probably one of the best we have ever played in front of at home, and for me to be a Chennai boy and do this in front of my city makes me speechless.
“I think this will pump up a lot of kids watching from the India squash academy and those watching at home. I really want to tell the kids to just work hard and keep pushing. Discipline can get you very far, and hopefully some of them can do it in the future when I’m sitting on the sofa watching. But tonight, it’s time to celebrate.”
Result: Squash World Cup final
India beat Hong Kong, China 3-0
Joshna Chinappa bt Ka Yi Lee 3-1 (7-3, 2-7, 7-5, 7-1)
Abhay Singh bt Alex Lau 3-0 (7-1, 7-4, 7-4)
Anahat Singh bt Tomato Ho 3-0 (7-2, 7-2, 7-5)
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