NE SPORTS BUREAU
CHENNAI, APR 20
A thrilling finale at the Indian Squash Academy saw India’s Suraj Kumar Chand and Egypt’s Rouqaia Othman crowned champions at the Chennai leg of the HCL India Squash Tour, a five-day PSA Challenger event that brought together 48 players from seven nations.
India’s Suraj Kumar Chand despatched Korean Jeongmin Ryu in the final of the men’s @PSAChallenger Indian Tour in Chennai to claim his 4th Tour title on home soil https://t.co/HXO2RvX2VG@indiasquash @coachcyrus @PSASquashTour @SquashSite pic.twitter.com/QDrfcqVcCh
— Squash Info (@SquashInfo) April 20, 2026
Organised in partnership with the Squash Rackets Federation of India and supported by the Sports Authority of India, the tournament featured intense men’s and women’s draws, each carrying a prize purse of USD 6,000 and crucial PSA ranking points.
- Global Grit, Home Glory: India’s Suraj triumphs as Egypt’s Othman dazzles in women’s final
- 48 Players, 7 Nations: Chennai leg delivers world-class squash over five electrifying days
- Ranking Dreams Alive: PSA Challenger boosts pathways for Indian players on home turf
- From Promise to Podium: Structured tour builds momentum for India’s rising squash stars
Congratulations to the winners and the runner-up of the HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour, Chennai. 👏🏆#IndianSquash #Squash #SRFI #HCLSquashPSAChallenger pic.twitter.com/UvJOafxdyE
— SRFI (@indiasquash) April 20, 2026
In the men’s final, Suraj Kumar Chand delivered a composed and high-intensity performance to defeat South Korea’s Jeongmin Ryu, clinching the title in front of a home crowd. In the women’s category, Rouqaia Othman combined consistency with aggressive shot-making to overcome Malaysia’s Harleein Tan, capping a week of fiercely contested matches.
Clicks from the semi-finals at the HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour, Chennai. 📸#IndianSquash #Squash #SRFI #HCLSquashPSAChallenger pic.twitter.com/I67YD5gKTx
— SRFI (@indiasquash) April 20, 2026
Reflecting on the tournament’s impact, Sundar Mahalingam said, “At HCL, we are committed to advancing squash in India by creating meaningful platforms for athletes to excel. The success of these PSA-level tournaments reflects the strength of our partnership with the Squash Rackets Federation of India in elevating Indian talent on the global stage. We will continue to nurture this momentum, with every medal reinforcing India’s rising stature in world squash.”
Echoing the sentiment, Cyrus Poncha noted, “The conclusion of the Chennai leg, culminating in an Indian victory, underscores the vital importance of a structured competition calendar. With talent from seven nations competing in 80 matches over five days, this event provided critical exposure and proved our players’ ability to sustain high-level performance—a key factor for world ranking progression. Having an Indian winner on home soil is particularly gratifying and validates our efforts to provide regular, international-standard competition within the country to strengthen India’s global squash standing.”
For the champion himself, the victory marked a personal milestone. Suraj Kumar Chand said, “Squash has been a long journey for me, from discovering the sport at a young age to competing at this level today. This win is especially important after falling short in the semifinals of my last two tournaments, as it really helped boost my confidence and motivation. The matches here were tough, but I stayed focused on taking it point by point and match by match, and I am glad my plan came together. Moments like these make all the hard work, travel, and effort truly worthwhile.”
The Chennai leg showcased a strong Indian presence alongside international players from Sri Lanka, Egypt, Malaysia, and Korea, highlighting the growing depth of India’s professional squash ecosystem.
As part of a broader initiative, the HCL India Squash Tour continues to build a structured competitive pathway, with more PSA Challenger events lined up across key cities — bringing global competition closer to home and strengthening India’s presence on the world squash stage.
