August 10th, 2024, Mumbai: The HCL 80th National Squash Championship concluded today with a resounding success, showcasing the sport’s resurgence in India. Organised by HCL Group, a leading global conglomerate, in collaboration with the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) the event was held at the prestigious Bombay Gymkhana Club from 4- 10 August. With around 670 players from 25 states, the championship reflected the growing popularity of squash across the nation.
Competing for a total prize purse of ₹9 Lakh, players participated in 12 categories including Men, Women, and Professional Coach and Masters in the age group of 35-70. Women Over-35 category was introduced providing a platform for women to continue excelling in the sport.
The men’s category witnessed an intense battle, with Abhay Singh from Tamil Nadu emerging victorious over Velavan Senthil kumar from Tamil Nadu in a closely contested match, finishing with a score of 3-2.In the women’s category, Anahat Singh from Delhi triumphed over Akanksha Salunkhe from Goa, securing the title with a score of 3-2.
The winners were felicitated by distinguished chief guests Mrs. Kiran Nadar, an international Bridge player and gold medallist at the 5th Commonwealth Games, and Mr. N. Ramachandran, a Patron at SRFI.The event was further graced by Ms. Shaili Singh, Long Jump Athelete, and a member of India’s Olympic Gold Quest. Shaili, a Silver Medalist at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, praised the tournament.
This year’s championship marked the return of the event to Mumbai after a 17-year hiatus, reigniting the city’s passion for squash. Following India’s remarkable performance in doubles squash at the Asian Games last year, HCL reintroduced the Doubles Squash Championship in Chennai after 17 years, followed by the Nationals in Mumbai. These initiatives are part of the broader effort to revitalise the sport in India and provide a dynamic platform for emerging talent to shine on the national stage.
Rajat Chandolia, AVP and Head of Brand at HCL, expressed his pride in the success of the championship, stating, “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), added, “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.
Details of winners in all categories:
| Category | Winner | Runner-up | Match Scores | |
| Women | Anahat Singh (DL- Defending Championship) | Akanksha Salunkhe (GA) | 03-02 | |
| Men | Abhay Singh (TN) | Velavan Senthilkumar (TN) | 03-02 | |
| MO70 | Men | Rajiv Reddy (TN- Defending Champion) | Kishan Lal (MH) | 03-01 |
| MO65 | Men | Vijay Jaini (HR) | Ravikrishna Burla(TL) | 03-01 |
| MO60 | Men | Dushyant Jamwal (DL) | Arun Rabindranath (KA) | 03-00 |
| MO55 | Men | Aashish Kamat(MH) | Ambarish Daga(WB) | 03-00 |
| MO50 | Men | Dalip Tripathi (WB- 9th national title) | Varinder Singh (HR) | 03-01 |
| MO45 | Men | Baskar Balamurugan (TN) | Amit Singh (DL) | 03-00 |
| MO40 | Men | Paul Ipe (KA) | Sanjay Pawar (MH) | 03-01 |
| MO35 | Men | Suhail Kapur (DL) | Arjun Agnihotri (SSCB) | 03-01 |
| WO35 | Women | Alisha Mashruwala (MH) | Mekhala Srivastava (KA) | 03-00 |
| PROCOACH | Men | Akhilesh Kumar (CH) | Saurabh Kumar (UP) | 03-02 |
This championship also served as a crucial selection platform for the World Squash Federation’s Men’s and Women’s Team Championship, scheduled for December 2024 in Hong Kong.
About HCL Group
Founded in 1976 as one of India’s original IT garage start-ups, HCL 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 enterprise 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$13.4 billion with 219,000employees 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.
For further information, please contact:
On behalf of HCL:
Shruti Saxena shruti-saxena@hcl.com; 9654356487
Alisha Bisherwal alisha.a@hcl.com; 8447821231
