India clinched their maiden Squash World Cup title on Sunday, producing a dominant performance against top seeds Hong Kong in the final held at the Express Avenue Mall in Chennai.
PM Modi (Photo:IANS)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed India’s historic triumph at the Squash World Cup, saying the landmark achievement would inspire young athletes and help grow the sport’s popularity across the country.
India clinched their maiden Squash World Cup title on Sunday, producing a dominant performance against top seeds Hong Kong in the final held at the Express Avenue Mall in Chennai. Competing on home soil, the hosts sealed the championship in emphatic fashion to etch their name into the tournament’s history.
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“Congratulations to the Indian Squash Team for creating history and winning their first-ever World Cup title at SDAT Squash World Cup 2025!” PM Modi posted on social media.
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“Joshna Chinnappa, Abhay Singh, Velavan Senthil Kumar and Anahat Singh have displayed tremendous dedication and determination. Their success has made the entire nation proud. This win will also boost the popularity of squash among our youth,” he added.
Congratulations to the Indian Squash Team for creating history and winning their first-ever World Cup title at SDAT Squash World Cup 2025!
Joshna Chinnappa, Abhay Singh, Velavan Senthil Kumar and Anahat Singh have displayed tremendous dedication and determination. Their success… pic.x.com/hJNF3mPSXt
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 15, 2025
India entered the title clash determined to make amends for their heartbreak at the previous edition, where they had suffered a semi-final exit on the same court in 2023. That motivation translated into a composed and clinical display against Hong Kong.
Veteran campaigner Joshna Chinnappa, a Chennai native, set the tone in the opening match. The 39-year-old overcame Ka Yi Lee in a hard-fought contest, registering a 7-3, 2-7, 7-5, 7-1 victory to give India the early advantage.
Momentum firmly swung India’s way in the second match, where men’s top-ranked player Abhay Singh took control against Alex Lau. With sharp movement and aggressive, accurate shot-making, Abhay wrapped up a 7-1, 7-4, 7-4 win in just 19 minutes to put the hosts 2-0 ahead.
Facing elimination, Hong Kong pinned their hopes on women’s first string Tomato Ho, who needed a big result against India’s teenage sensation Anahat Singh. Instead, the packed home crowd witnessed another composed performance from the 17-year-old.
Anahat, who burst onto the international stage at the 2022 Commonwealth Games at the age of 14, showed remarkable poise and authority, dismantling Ho 7-2, 7-2, 7-5 to seal the title for India.
The victory not only secured India their first Squash World Cup crown but also made them just the sixth nation to lift a major World Squash team championship, marking a significant milestone for the sport in the country.
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