Indian Squash on the Rise: 2026 Becomes a Breakthrough Year on the PSA World Tour
Indian squash is experiencing a remarkable rise on the international stage, and the 2026 season has emerged as a major turning point for the sport in the country.
After years of waiting for consistent success at the higher levels of the PSA World Tour, Indian players have already collected four PSA World Events titles in 2026, signalling the arrival of a new generation capable of competing for silverware on the global circuit.
The numbers underline the scale of the change. Before 2026, Indian players had won only two PSA World Tour titles at the Silver level or above the Copper tier — one Silver title and one Bronze title. In just eight months of 2026, India has already added four more World Events titles, comprising one Bronze and three Copper crowns.
With more tournaments still to come this year, that tally could increase further.
Indian squash has never lacked talented players. The country has produced major international stars such as Saurav Ghosal, Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik, while Ritwick Bhattacharya helped establish India's presence on the international circuit.
However, sustained success in higher-tier PSA events remained difficult. Ghosal was India's most successful men's player for many years, reaching World No. 10 and winning 10 PSA titles during his career. Yet Indian players often found it difficult to convert deep tournament runs into victories at the higher levels of the PSA structure.
That pattern has changed dramatically in 2026.
The breakthrough has come from multiple players rather than one individual, making the current surge particularly significant.
Anahat Singh leads the breakthrough
One of the biggest highlights of the season has been Anahat Singh's historic victory at the Squash On Fire Open in Washington, D.C. Singh won the Bronze-level event after defeating England's Georgina Kennedy in the final. The victory was particularly significant because it made her the first Indian woman to win a PSA Bronze title.
The teenager's run included a major quarter-final victory over Egypt's Sana Ibrahim before she overcame American Sabrina Sobhy in the semi-finals.
Against Kennedy, the top seed and World No. 10, Singh produced a composed performance to win 3-0. The victory subsequently helped propel her into the world's top 20 and established Singh as one of the brightest young players in international squash.
Her success continued at the JSW Indian Open, where she captured another PSA World Events title by defeating Egypt's Hana Moataz in the women's final. Two major titles in the same season have transformed Singh from a promising junior into an established force on the senior circuit.
Abhay Singh delivers on home soil
The Indian Open also produced another landmark moment for Indian squash. Abhay Singh won the men's title, defeating compatriot Veer Chotrani in the final. The victory was his maiden PSA World Events crown and further strengthened India's presence at the Copper level.
Abhay's success was particularly encouraging because he had previously reached the final of the Indian Open. This time, he completed the job, winning the final in straight games.
The victory also pushed him to a career-high World No. 22, placing him firmly among the leading players in the men's game.
Velavan Senthilkumar conquers Budapest
The latest major breakthrough came from Velavan Senthilkumar at the Budapest Open. The Indian southpaw produced an outstanding run at the PSA Copper event, defeating Malaysia's Eain Yow Ng and surviving a dramatic five-game semi-final against Veer Chotrani.
In the final, Senthilkumar faced home favourite Balazs Farkas. There was no hesitation from the Indian. Senthilkumar dominated the final 11-4, 11-2, 11-3 to secure his maiden PSA World Tour title. The victory was another indication of the increasing depth within Indian men's squash.
The most important aspect of India's 2026 success is that the titles have come from different players and across both men's and women's squash. Anahat Singh has established herself as a major force on the women's circuit. Abhay Singh has broken through on the men's side, while Velavan Senthilkumar has added another international title.
That diversity suggests Indian squash is moving beyond dependence on a single generation of players.
International training exposure, stronger domestic tournament opportunities, coaching expertise and greater competitive experience are helping Indian players bridge the gap with established squash nations.
The emergence of European training bases and access to high-level sparring have also provided players with environments that replicate the intensity of the biggest PSA events.
The timing of India's breakthrough could hardly be more important. Squash is set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, creating a new incentive for players, coaches and administrators to accelerate development. Having multiple players operating around the world's top 20, top 50 and top 100 provides India with a stronger foundation as the Olympic qualification cycle approaches.
The 2026 season therefore represents more than an impressive collection of titles.
It could be the beginning of a new era. India had only two higher-tier PSA World Tour titles before 2026. It now has four more in a single season, with Anahat Singh, Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar leading the charge.
And with the season still not over, the Indian squash story of 2026 may have another chapter waiting to be written.
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