India celebrated a successful campaign at the Asian Doubles Squash Championships in Johor, Malaysia, concluding on Sunday, as they clinched two titles. The spotlight was on Abhay Singh, who achieved a remarkable ‘double’ by securing both the men’s doubles and mixed doubles crowns.
In the men’s doubles final, Abhay and his partner Velavan Senthilkumar, the top-seeded pair, exhibited dominance over the Malaysian second seeds Ong Sai Hung and Syafiq Kamal. They secured a convincing victory, winning 11-4, 11-5.
The mixed doubles final saw Abhay partnering with the experienced Joshna Chinappa, the third-seeded pair, facing a tough challenge against the second-seeded Hong Kong duo Tong Tsz Wing and Tang Ming Hong. The match was a closely contested affair, with the Indian pair eventually emerging victorious after a hard-fought battle, winning 11-8, 10-11, 11-5.
Senthilkumar expressed his satisfaction with their performance, highlighting the confidence and improvement they displayed throughout the tournament. He attributed their success to the revival of the National doubles championships by the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) and HCL, which provided valuable momentum.
Joshna, who received the prestigious Padma Shri award earlier this year, shared her delight at returning to the international stage following a five-month hiatus due to a knee surgery. The doubles competition served as a perfect platform for her comeback, allowing her to regain competitive form before returning to the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour.
India’s dominance in the Asian Doubles Squash Championships is a testament to the strength and depth of their squash talent. Abhay Singh’s exceptional performance, coupled with the impressive comeback of Joshna Chinappa, have solidified India’s position as a force to be reckoned with in the world of squash.
