India Win Maiden Squash World Cup 2025 Title as Anahat Singh Seals Historic Victory

India scripted a glorious chapter in their sporting history on Sunday, December 15, 2025, as they clinched their maiden Squash World Cup title with a commanding 3-0 victory over top-seeded Hong Kong China in the final at the Express Avenue Mall in Chennai. The triumph marked India’s emergence as only the fourth nation—after Australia, England, and Egypt—to win the prestigious mixed-team title in the tournament’s five-edition history.

The second-seeded Indian team maintained an unblemished record throughout the campaign, not losing a single match en route to the championship. Their dominance was particularly impressive given that they defeated defending two-time champions Egypt 3-0 in the semifinals, setting up a clash with the tournament favorites.

Chinappa’s Experience Provides Perfect Launch

Veteran Joshna Chinappa, competing in what has been a remarkable comeback season, gave India the ideal start in the final. The 39-year-old, ranked 79th in the PSA rankings, stunned world number 37 Lee Ka Yi with a 3-1 victory (7-3, 2-7, 7-5, 7-1) in the opening women’s singles rubber.

Chinappa, a two-time Asian Champion and former world number 10, demonstrated the wealth of experience she brings to the Indian squad. Having won 19 national titles and recently capturing her 11th PSA career title at the Japan Open in October 2025, the Chennai-born stalwart showed remarkable composure against her higher-ranked opponent. Her ability to recover from dropping the second game and dominate the crucial fourth game proved instrumental in establishing India’s momentum.

Tournament Performance Summary

Final Match Breakdown

India’s Squad at Squash World Cup 2025

Squash World Cup Winners (All Editions)

Key Statistics from India’s Campaign

India’s Recent Squash Achievements

Abhay Singh Extends India’s Advantage

Asian Games gold medalist Abhay Singh, India’s top-ranked men’s singles player at world number 29, maintained the pressure with a clinical 3-0 dismantling of 42nd-ranked Alex Lau. The 27-year-old completed his match in just 19 minutes with scores of 7-1, 7-4, 7-4, showcasing the form that has made him India’s highest-ranked male player.

Singh’s comprehensive victory left no room for Hong Kong China to mount a comeback, putting India just one rubber away from their historic breakthrough. The five-time Asian Champion and Arjuna Award winner demonstrated why he has been central to India’s recent resurgence in international squash, combining power with tactical precision.

Teenage Prodigy Seals Historic Triumph

Playing to close out the title, 17-year-old Anahat Singh stepped onto the court with the weight of history on her shoulders and delivered a masterclass in pressure performance. Facing world number 31 Tomato Ho, the Indian teenager—ranked 28th globally and currently India’s top women’s player—was ruthless in her execution.

Anahat dominated from start to finish, securing a 3-0 victory with scores of 7-2, 7-2, 7-5. Her clinical performance meant that national champion Velavan Senthilkumar did not need to take the court for the fourth rubber, as India completed a comprehensive clean sweep.

The Delhi-born sensation has been on a meteoric rise since turning professional, climbing from world number 406 in April 2023 to her current position inside the top 30. Her World Cup performance added another remarkable achievement to a 2025 season that has included winning the British Junior Open U-17 title, securing bronze at the World Junior Championships, and capturing multiple PSA titles.

Unbeaten Path to Glory

India’s journey to the title was marked by complete dominance across all matches. After being drawn in Group B alongside Switzerland and Brazil, the Indian team announced their intentions with identical 4-0 victories in both group stage encounters. The quartet of Anahat Singh, Joshna Chinappa, Abhay Singh, and Velavan Senthilkumar worked seamlessly as a unit, with each player contributing crucial victories.

The knockout stages saw India maintain their imperious form. They blanked South Africa 3-0 in the quarterfinals before producing their most impressive performance in the semifinals against Egypt. The defending two-time champions, featuring some of the world’s top players, were swept aside 3-0 as India demonstrated they were the team to beat.

National champion Velavan Senthilkumar, ranked 45th in the world, played a crucial role in India’s semifinal victory over Egypt, setting the tone with a commanding 3-0 win over 96th-ranked Ibrahim Elkabbani in the opening rubber. Anahat Singh then extended the lead with a hard-fought 3-2 victory (6-7, 7-5, 7-3, 3-7, 7-3) against 44th-ranked Nour Heikal, before Abhay Singh sealed the tie with a 3-1 triumph over Adam Hawal.

Significance Beyond the Trophy

The victory carries profound significance for Indian squash, arriving at a pivotal moment as the sport prepares for its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028. India becomes the first Asian nation to win the Squash World Cup, breaking the dominance of traditional squash powerhouses from Oceania, Europe, and Africa.

For India, this represents a remarkable improvement from their previous best finish—a bronze medal at the 2023 edition held at the same venue in Chennai. That tournament saw India lose to Malaysia in the semifinals before settling for third place. Two years later, with largely the same core group but with Anahat Singh replacing Dipika Pallikal, the team has completed their transformation from bronze medalists to champions.

“An unbelievable evening, what more can I say?” Abhay Singh said after the final. “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.”

Generational Blend Proves Decisive

The Indian team’s success can be attributed to the perfect blend of youth and experience. While Chinappa brought nearly two decades of international experience, having competed at the highest level since the mid-2000s, the emergence of Anahat Singh has added a fearless dimension to the squad.

At just 17 years old, Anahat became the youngest player in the tournament and proved to be India’s match-winner in crucial moments. Her ability to handle pressure in both the semifinal and final demonstrated maturity far beyond her years. The teenager has already won nine PSA titles in 2024 alone—becoming the first woman since Nicol David in 2010 to achieve that feat—and has continued her remarkable form into 2025.

The partnership between Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh in mixed doubles has also been highly successful, with the pair winning gold at the 2025 Asian Doubles Squash Championships and bronze at the 2023 Asian Games. This chemistry extended to their team performances at the World Cup, where their individual victories often proved decisive.

Home Advantage and Tournament Format

Hosting the tournament for the third consecutive time, Chennai’s Express Avenue Mall provided a familiar and supportive environment for the Indian players. The crowd’s enthusiasm throughout the week created an electric atmosphere, particularly during the knockout stages and the final.

The tournament format featured 12 nations divided into four pools, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. Each tie consisted of up to four rubbers—two women’s singles and two men’s singles—with teams needing to win three rubbers to secure victory. India’s depth across both men’s and women’s squash proved crucial, as they could rely on any of their four players to deliver match-winning performances.

Olympic Preparation Gains Momentum

With squash set to make its long-awaited Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, India’s World Cup triumph provides significant momentum for the sport’s development in the country. The success of young players like Anahat Singh, who will be 20 years old at the Los Angeles Olympics, suggests India could be genuine medal contenders.

The current Indian squad features three men inside the world’s top 50—Abhay Singh (29), Ramit Tandon (40), and Velavan Senthilkumar (45)—creating a competitive training environment that should sustain high performance levels. On the women’s side, Anahat Singh’s rapid rise to world number 28 makes her India’s top-ranked player across genders, surpassing even the men’s rankings.

The tournament was organized by World Squash, the sport’s global governing body, and broadcast live on the Olympic Channel, ensuring maximum exposure for the sport ahead of its Olympic debut.

Looking Ahead

This historic victory positions India as a rising force in international squash. The team’s ability to defeat traditional powerhouses like Egypt and Hong Kong China demonstrates they can compete with anyone on their day. More importantly, the age profile of the squad—particularly with Anahat Singh still a teenager—suggests this success could be the beginning of a sustained period of excellence rather than a one-off achievement.

For Indian squash fans, December 15, 2025, will be remembered as the day when years of steady development, investment in coaching infrastructure, and the nurturing of young talent culminated in ultimate glory. As Abhay Singh noted, it was indeed “an unbelievable evening” and a fitting end to a remarkable year for Indian squash.

The triumph also validates the Indian Squash Federation’s strategy of exposing young players to high-level international competition early in their careers, a policy that has clearly paid dividends with players like Anahat Singh thriving under pressure on the biggest stages.

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