Joshna Chinappa, Abhay Singh, and Anahat Singh wrote history as India defeated Hong Kong 3-0 to win the Squash World Cup for the first time. In front of a boisterous home crowd, the Indian team performed brilliantly in their first World Cup final in Chennai on Sunday, defeating the pre-tournament favorites in straight ties.
India’s previous best finish of a bronze medal in 2023 was surpassed by the decisive victory, which represented their greatest performance in the competition. Hong Kong, on the other hand, improved on its bronze-medal result from two years ago to record its best-ever performance at the competition.
Fans rallied behind the Indian players, whose poise and tactical discipline shined out on the big stage, creating an electrifying atmosphere inside the mall.
With a tough and calm performance in the first game, veteran campaigner Joshna Chinappa set the tone for India’s historic victory. In a 23-minute match, Joshna, rated 79th in the world, overcame early difficulties to overcome Ka Yi Lee, ranked 42 spots higher, 7-3, 2-7, 7-5, and 7-1.
Joshna dominated the first game, demonstrating her exceptional shot selection and court craft. But in the second and third games, Lee became more aggressive, scoring a number of clean winners from the backcourt and momentarily pressuring the Indian.
The 39-year-old answered with the composed confidence that comes with experience. She maintained her composure to win the closely contested third game 7-5 before seizing total control in the fourth, decisively ending the match and preventing her opponent from making a comeback.
Encouraged by Joshna’s first victory, Abhay Singh dominated the second game. The 27-year-old, who is renowned for his ability to perform well on significant occasions, appeared polished and self-assured while wearing national colors. He defeated Alex Lau, the current Asian champion, in straight games and increased India’s lead with a brutal performance.
After that, Anahat Singh firmly finished the formalities. In just sixteen minutes, she defeated Asian champion Tomato Ho, demonstrating maturity beyond her years. With her speed and accuracy, Anahat controlled the rallies and ended the match without giving Hong Kong a chance to gain ground.
