CHENNAI, INDIA – December 15, 2025 — Indian squash has shattered a major glass ceiling! In a dominant and historic performance, Team India was crowned the champion of the SDAT Squash World Cup 2025, defeating top-seeded Hong Kong, China, 3-0 in a thrilling final held at the Express Avenue Mall in Chennai on Sunday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The monumental victory marks India’s first-ever World Cup title in the mixed-team format, upgrading their 2023 bronze medal and solidifying their position as a rising force in the global sport ahead of its Olympic debut at LA 2028.
The Final: Experience and Youth Deliver a Clean Sweep
The final tie was a clinical display of the team’s perfect blend of veteran experience and youthful exuberance:
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Veteran Grit: The tone was set by the legendary Joshna Chinappa, who, despite being ranked significantly lower (World No. 79) than her opponent Lee Ka Yi (World No. 37), delivered a crucial 3-1 victory (7-3, 2-7, 7-5, 7-1). Chinappa’s tactical brilliance and composure in the clutch moments gave India the vital 1-0 lead.
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Clinical Dominance: India’s top-ranked male player, Abhay Singh, then put on a commanding show, overpowering Alex Lau 3-0 (7-1, 7-4, 7-4) in a swift 19 minutes to double India’s lead to 2-0.
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The Decisive Blow: The historic winning point was sealed by 17-year-old prodigy Anahat Singh. Unfazed by the pressure of the moment, the teenage sensation outplayed World No. 31 Tomato Ho 3-0 (7-2, 7-2, 7-5) in just 16 minutes, sparking wild celebrations among the home crowd. The win made the final rubber, which would have featured Velavan Senthilkumar, unnecessary.
An Unbeaten Path to Glory
India’s journey to the title was characterized by sheer dominance. The second-seeded team did not drop a single tie throughout the tournament, including a stunning 3-0 blanking of two-time defending champions Egypt in the semi-finals, following decisive wins over Brazil and South Africa in the earlier knockout stages.
“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. The crowd was probably one of the best crowds we have probably 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.” – Abhay Singh after the victory.
The triumph has drawn widespread acclaim, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah leading the nation in congratulating the team—Joshna Chinappa, Abhay Singh, Anahat Singh, and Velavan Senthilkumar—for their landmark achievement.
The SDAT Squash World Cup 2025 will forever be remembered as the moment India truly arrived on the squash world stage.
