NEW DELHI: India’s top squash players, who showcased their might on the international stage last year, have earned well-deserved nominations for the prestigious Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2024.
Get ready for a fierce contest. These exceptional athletes will compete for top honours in the men’s and women’s categories.
The Squash Player of the Year award (both men and women) will be announced on February 22, in a glorious ceremony in Lucknow, the historic ‘City of Nawabs.’
The assessment period for the awards was from January 1 to December 31, 2024, and the list of award winners was drawn by the eminent TOISA 2024 Jury.
Here are the squash champions nominated for TOISA 2024:
Date of Birth: March 26, 1998
Place of Birth: Salem, Tamil Nadu
Sport: Squash
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Won the Batch Open 2024 squash tournament, a men’s Challenger Tour event, at the Societe Sportive du Jeu de Paume in Paris
– Secured the ACE Challenger Tour 12K title in Kuala Lumpur, defeating Pakistan’s Noor Zaman in the final
– Teamed with Abhay Singh and won the Men’s doubles title at the Asian Doubles Squash Championships in Johor
Velavan Senthilkumar‘s mother was a part of the national badminton team, his father played basketball for the country. His brother Guhan, a student of the University of Manchester, also plays squash. Senthilkumar married fellow Indian squash player Aaradhana Kasturiraj in June 2024. In December 2024, Velavan achieved a career-high world ranking of 43rd, reflecting his consistent performance throughout the year and his accomplishments in 2024 underscored his dedication and rising prominence in the international squash arena.
Date of Birth: September 3, 1998
Place of Birth: Chennai
Sport: Squash
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Won the Willingdon Masters by defeating Suraj Chand
– Beat Elliott Morris Devred to win the Goodfellow Classic
– Defeated top seed Lau Tsz Kwan of Hong Kong in the final to win Tuanku Muhriz Trophy
– Reached the semi-finals of the Bronze-level ACE Malaysia Cup
– Captured his second Indian National title
– Teamed with Velavan Senthilkumar and won the Men’s doubles title at the Asian Doubles
Squash Championships in Johor
– Teamed with Joshna Chinappa and won the Mixed doubles title at the Asian Doubles Squash
Championships in Johor
Profile:
Abhay Singh is an Asian Games gold and bronze medallist and a triple gold medallist at the Asian Championships and a silver and bronze medallist at the South Asian Games. Abhay achieved a career-high PSA World Ranking in 2024, breaking into the top 50, cementing his status as one of the top Indian squash players. Abhay played a pivotal role in India’s success at the Asian Team Championships contributing to India’s gold medal victory, with stellar individual performances against top Asian opponents. Abhay has been honoured with the Arjuna Award 2024, one of India’s highest sporting accolades, recognizing his exceptional contribution to squash.
Date of Birth: January 24, 1999
Place of Birth: Satara
Sport: Squash
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Won her third PSA title after securing victory in the Open de Couzeix/Limoges during the 2024–25 PSA Squash Tour
– Runner-up at the Senior National Championships in 2024
Profile:
Akanksha was the runner-up at the Senior National Championships in 2024. Reflecting on the tournament, she expressed gratitude for the experiences and lessons learned while competing on home soil. Representing India at the World Squash Team Championships in 2024, Akanksha, ranked as India’s highest player at world No. 70 at that time, secured a 3-1 victory over her opponent, contributing to India’s performance in the tournament. Akanksha reached a career high ranking of 66 in the world during January 2025.
Place of Birth: Sarmal
Sport: Squash
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Reached the quarter-finals of Western India Open
– Reached the quarter-finals of Sunil Verma Memorial Open
Anjali Semwal is viewed as a rising star in Indian squash, with her steady improvement and strong performances in domestic and international tournaments. Known for her agility and precision, Anjali’s gameplay focuses on quick reflexes and strategic shot placement. Her dedication to fitness and consistency has made her a promising talent in Indian squash. Anjali trains under the guidance of coach Rahul Vasishtha, honing her skills and gaining experience in competitive tourna- ments. Anjali represented India in the World Team Championships held in Hong Kong, contributing to the national team’s strong performance.
Date of Birth: March 13, 2008
Place of Birth: Delhi
Sport: Squash
Major Achievements in 2024:
– Finished runner-up at British Junior Open
– Won JSW Willingdon LMS tournament
– Won Hamdard Squashters Northern Slam
– Won HCL Squash Tour Chennai
– Finished runner-up at Dynam Cup SQ-Cube Open
– Won Reliance PSA Challenge 3 tournament
– Won HCL Squash Tour Kolkata
– Won Costa North Coast Open
– Won NSW Open
– Won Sunil Verma Memorial tournament
– Won Western India Slam
Profile:
Date of Birth: March 13, 2008 Place of Birth: Delhi
Sport: Squash
Rising star Anahat enjoyed a sensational 2024, solidifying her place as one of the sport’s brightest talents. She won an impres- sive nine tour titles, becoming the first woman to achieve such a feat in a single year since Nicol David in 2010. Anahat’s exceptional form saw her dominate the court with 38 wins out of 40 matches, 31 of them with a commanding 3–0 scoreline.
Her victories included titles at the prestigious JSW Willingdon LMS Tournament, Hamdard Squashters Northern Slam, HCL Squash Tour Chennai, Reliance PSA Challenge 3, HCL Squash Tour Kolkata, Costa North Coast Open, NSW Open, Sunil Verma Memorial Tournament, and Western India Slam.
Singh’s outstanding performances not only earned her numerous titles but also propelled her into the top 100 global rankings, climbing an incredible 51 spots to reach her career-high ranking of 82.
Her remarkable consistency and ability to perform under pressure have made her a force to reckon with in the world of squash.
