Six-leg India Squash Tour, sanctioned by world body, begins next week
The 2025-26 season – that will witness events in Jaipur, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Delhi – will have Challenger tournaments with varying prize money. These events will be sanctioned by the Professional Squash Association (PSA), and will have a 24-player field with the top eight seeds getting a bye in the first round.
The tour has extended its footprint from four events, with Delhi and Ahmedabad the new venues. It has been backed by HCL and is being conducted in partnership with the sports ministry and the Sports Authority of India. All events will offer equal prize money for men and women.
'We are expecting top international players to feature in these tournaments. It will be good for Indian players, especially the youngsters. We will have the likes of Joshna Chinappa, Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh in action,' Squash Rackets Federation of India secretary general Cyrus Poncha said.
The 2025-26 calendar includes Challenger 15k event in Chennai ($15,000 prize pool), Challenger 9k events in Jaipur and Mumbai ($9,000 each) and Challenger 6k events in New Delhi, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad ($6,000 each).
Double Asian Games medallist Tanvi Khanna explained how the tour would help Indian players.
'I got injured after the Asian Games in 2023 and my ranking slipped to 400. However, when I returned to action, the PSA India tour was crucial in getting important ranking points for me,' said Tanvi, currently world number 69.
Poncha also announced that Delhi will host the senior National Squash Championship at Major Dhyanchand National Stadium from August 23 to 28 of this year.
'We expect most of the top players to participate in the event,' Poncha said at Thursday's media interaction.
Jaipur – August 4-8
Mumbai – September 8-12
Bengaluru – September 26-31
Chennai – December 1-5
Ahmedabad – January 27-31, 2026
Delhi – February 3-7, 2026
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
No player should miss out on tournaments due to lack of funds, says CM
1 2 Nagpur: Maharashtra is set to establish advanced sports training centres with global-standard facilities, international coaches, and certified nutritionists, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Saturday. Speaking at a felicitation ceremony for Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh, Fadnavis said the state is committed to building a robust sports ecosystem where every deserving player gets full support. He also added that no athlete should miss out on tournaments due to financial or logistical constraints. Addressing the gathering, Fadnavis said Divya's triumph brought him threefold happiness: as an Indian witnessing the end of Chinese dominance in chess, as a Maharashtrian proud of the state's talent, and as a Nagpurkar celebrating a hometown hero. "She made us proud at the global level," said Fadnavis. "At just 19, she's achieved what many can only dream of," he added. Fadnavis emphasised that Divya's journey — from Under-9 champion at the age of 7 to defeating elite global players — is a source of inspiration for thousands of young chess aspirants. Highlighting the focus, discipline, and sharpness required for chess in an age dominated by mobile distractions, he stressed that Maharashtra would continue to give sports the priority it deserves. "This felicitation is not just to honour her but to inspire others. We are building a system where no talented sportsperson is deprived of chances due to a lack of funds or facilities," he said. Fadnavis elaborated on several initiatives launched by the state to uplift sports. "Until recently, there was no provision to fund players. Now we've changed that. We offer cash prizes and direct support to help athletes with travel, training, and equipment," he said. Fadnavis also revealed that the state govt has already transferred Rs3 crore into Divya's account as a reward. On a lighter note, cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal commented on Nagpur's intellectual strength, saying, "People from Nagpur seem to be especially brilliant at chess." Jokingly, he added, "I also play chess, but in politics. Knocking out pawns and checkmating opponents is a skill we learn here, too." MLC Parinay Fuke, president of the Maharashtra Chess Association, also praised Divya's achievement, calling it a landmark moment for both Nagpur and India. "After Vishy Anand, she is the first Indian woman to bring such glory to India. The finals were tough, with three tie-breakers, but her aggressive play helped her clinch the win," he said. He recalled her early days, citing her first coach, the late Rahul Joshi, and current coach Abhimanyu Puranik. Fuke also revealed that when they approached the CM for funding the Chess Grand Prix in 2023, he immediately approved Rs2 crore. "Divya, who had lost to Koneru Humpy in the semi-final then, went on to defeat Humpy in this year's finale," he said. With the next Chess World Cup (Open) set to take place in India, Fuke said that Maharashtra deserves to host the event and take its rightful place on the world chess map. Fadnavis replied that if the Maharashtra Chess Association manages to bag the hosting rights, the state govt will ensure that it is organised at a grand level. Newly appointed sports minister Manikrao Kokate, in his first public address, called chess a mix of discipline, concentration, and mental strength. Kokate announced that funds would be specially allocated for advanced training of girl athletes. "If girls are given the right opportunity and support, they can conquer the world. I will do everything in my capacity to make Maharashtra the top state in sports," Kokate said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
'He told me to...': Yashasvi Jaiswal reveals the six-word advice Rohit Sharma shared with him at The Oval
Courtesy of a blazing century on Day 3, Yashasvi Jaiswal has set the tone for India's win at The Oval. The opener smashed his 6th Test ton and second of the century. read more Rohit Sharma was in attendance at The Oval when Yashasvi Jaiswal was batting on Day 3. Screengrab: Sonyliv/AFP Team India emerged as the more dominant side on Day 3 of the Oval Test, and opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal was the bearer of the ascendancy that has set the tone for India's victory on Day 4. After going unbeaten at 51 on Day 2, Jaiswal continued the blitz on the and completed a scintillating ton to render a certain edge to India. He wrapped the series in the same way with which he began- with a century- and registered his 6th Test hundred and second of the series. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Jaiswal reveals Rohit's advice When Jaiswal was in the middle, the camera panned to one of the greatest stalwarts of Indian cricket's history, Rohit Sharma. The former India Test captain was in attendance at the Oval and even left an encouraging message for Jaiswal, which he revealed in the press conference that followed the close of the day's play. 'He told me to hang in there and bat long,' said the southpaw. Though Jaiswal could not take his innings beyond the 118-run mark, Team India thoroughly needed runs from his bat, and his knock could prove to be the difference between the two teams in the end. The series makes Jaiswal more mature The series turned out to be topsy-turvy for the Indian batter; he was a hit on occasions and was a complete miss at times. However, Jaiswal's career trajectory is only moving upwards, putting out the impression that the 23-year-old would have surely gained a lot of takeaways in the last 40 or so days. Talking more about his learnings he got from the series, Jaiswal said: 'It's all about how I fight. Always, the mentality is to go out there and fight it out and enjoy.' Because in the end, (and) as I tell myself that it's the game and we need to enjoy the game. That is very important. With that, we should have fun." 'I am proud of myself and all my teammates. We want fun. We want some battle in the middle. That is the fun. That's why you play Test cricket,' he said.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
England's Ben Duckett And Zak Crawley Become 1st Opening Pair In The World To...
Last Updated: Crawley and Duckett opened the innings for England on Saturday (August 2) and added 50 runs in 13.5 overs for the first wicket. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett are the openers for England in Test cricket, and on Saturday (August 2), they entered their names in the history books by becoming the first opening pair in the world to register nine 50+ run opening partnerships in Tests against the Indian team. Duckett and Crawley opened the second innings for England in the ongoing fifth Test against India at The Oval and added 50 runs for the first wicket in 13.5 overs on Saturday. The 50-run stand by the duo was the ninth time in 19 innings that they managed to add at least 50 runs for the first wicket in Tests against India. They broke Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes's record. Haynes and Greenidge played 30 innings as an opener for the West Indies against India in Tests and added at least 50 runs for the first wicket eight times. In 19 Test innings against India, Crawley and Duckett have added 1034 runs as opening partners for England against India. They are only the second opening pair in the world to score 1000 runs against India in the five-day format of the game. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley's opening stands vs India in Tests The overall record of scoring the most runs as an opening pair in Tests against India is in the name of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes of the West Indies. Haynes and Greenidge played 30 innings as an opener against India in Tests and added 1325 runs. Most runs as opening partners against India in Tests Crawley out for 14 In England's second innings of the ongoing fifth Test against India at The Oval, Crawley could only manage to score 14 runs from 36 balls. He was clean bowled by Mohammed Siraj on the last ball of third day's play. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
