Team India clinched their maiden SDAT Squash World Championship title with their win over Hong Kong in the final of the event on Sunday.
The Indian contingent registered a 3-0 triumph over the top-seeded HK in the summit clash to get their hands on the crown for the very first time.
Joshna Chinappa defeated Ka Yi Lee 3-1 (7-3, 2-7, 7-5, 7-1), before Abhay Singh blanked Alex Lau 3-0 (7-1, 7-4, 7-4) and Anahat Singh thrashed Tomato Ho 3-0 (7-2, 7-2, 7-5) to seal the deal.
The hosts delivered a fearless and comprehensive performance on Saturday, decisively defeating two-time champions Egypt 3-0 to secure their spot in their first-ever Squash World Cup final.
Seeded second, India will now face Hong Kong China in the title clash at Express Avenue Mall,
after Hong Kong narrowly overcame Japan in the other semifinal.
India set the tone early, with national champion Velavan Senthilkumar dominating Ibrahim Elkabbani 7-1, 7-3, 7-6 to give the hosts a flying start. The momentum continued to build as India’s top-ranked women’s player, Anahat Singh, battled through a gritty five-game match to defeat Nour Heikal, doubling the lead for India.
With Egypt on the back foot, Abhay Singh clinched the victory. The Asian Games bronze medallist outlasted Adam Hawal in a tense four-game contest to complete the sweep and thrill the home crowd.
This result marks a historic moment for Indian squash. After settling for bronze in 2023, this is the country’s best-ever performance at the World Cup. Joshna Chinappa’s scheduled match became irrelevant once India secured the win.
India’s journey to the final has been impressive. They topped their group with victories over Switzerland and Brazil, then convincingly defeated South Africa 3-0 in the quarterfinals, and now have stunned Egypt at the crucial moment.
