Squash has taken centre stage as the Mumbai leg of the HCL India Squash Tour 2025-26 is currently on at Bandra’s Otters Club.
The five-day tournament, which kicked off September 8 and runs through to Friday, September 12, has 48 players from 11 countries competing for world ranking points and equal prize money of $9,000 each for men and women.
The event is backed by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
Now expanded to six cities, this Professional Squash Association (PSA) Challenger Tour series brings international-calibre competition to Indian soil, offering critical PSA ranking points, enhanced prize purses, and a stronger pathway for homegrown athletes to excel globally.
Following the success of the inaugural edition, which saw Indian players improve their PSA rankings significantly, the revamped 2025–26 season includes Jaipur, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Delhi on its circuit, with the latter two cities newly added to the lineup.
For Indian squash, it is another chance to showcase its growing strength on home soil. The opening leg of the Tour in Jaipur earlier this year drew attention for its competitive depth, and Mumbai ha raised the bar further with a mix of established stars and rising challengers.
Squash has long been one of the world’s most demanding racket sports, played in more than 185 countries by around 20 million people. Its inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics has given players a fresh incentive and federations a reason to step up investment.
Egypt continues to dominate the sport, but Asia’s influence is spreading fast through nations like Japan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
India is also making steady progress. With six players currently inside the PSA Top 100 and a track record of Commonwealth and Asian Games medals, the country is building a pipeline of talent that can compete with the best.
The challenge now is to provide regular, world-class competition – and that is where the HCL Squash Indian Tour has become a game-changer.
HCL’s long-term push into sport
Beyond squash, HCL has backed chess, bridge, and grassroots initiatives in a bid to give Indian athletes more platforms to compete internationally. But its partnership with the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), launched in 2016, has been its most ambitious sporting project.
Together, the two organisations have hosted more than 40 tournaments, benefitting over 1,000 Indian players across categories. Many of those athletes have since made the jump to the PSA World Tour, underlining the impact of sustained investment.
HCL Group AVP and head of Brand Rajat Chandolia noted: “The HCL Squash Indian Tour is not about one-off events – it is about creating continuity and building pathways for Indian athletes,” . “Since 2016, we have partnered with SRFI to host more than 40 tournaments, benefitting over 1,000 players across categories. With the support of SAI and the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, we can now offer world-class competition at home, reducing the barriers our players face in chasing international ranking points.
“Our long-term vision is clear – to help India produce champions who can compete at the very highest level and, with squash now part of the 2028 Olympics, make their mark on the biggest sporting stage of all.”
Players from Egypt, Malaysia, Japan, France, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Iran, Malta, New Zealand, and India are currently in action at the tournament. Among the Indian names to watch are Veer Chotrani (World No. 56) and Akanksha Salunkhe (World No. 69) for India, while international interest is centred on Amina El Rihany of Egypt (World No. 63) and Enora Villard of France (World No. 75).
