Top Indian Squash Players: Saurav Ghosal, Joshna Chinappa and the Next Generation
Two singles silvers and three bronzes. That’s what Indian squash took home from the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. Because those medals came from three generations, the top Indian squash players now range from trailblazers to teenagers. So who are they, and what have they actually won?
Because squash is heading to the Olympics in 2028, interest in these names has never been higher. To answer that, this guide profiles the key figures in plain terms, with results tied to clear dates. Along the way, it shows how one era handed the racket to the next. Since results keep changing, everything here reflects reports available as of October 2026.
Saurav Ghosal: The Trailblazer
Saurav Ghosal made his professional debut in 2003 and carried Indian squash for two decades. By April 2019, he had become the only Indian man to reach the world’s top 10. He then stayed there for six months. Because of that run, he’s often called India’s finest male squash player. Along the way, he won 10 PSA titles and reached 18 finals.
His national record is just as striking. Ghosal won 13 Indian national titles, although the last came in 2020. At the Commonwealth Games, he collected three medals, including a singles bronze in Birmingham in 2022. Because of that result, he became the first Indian man to medal in Commonwealth Games squash singles. In fact, he was also the first Indian squash player to receive the Arjuna Award, in 2007.
Team Gold and a World Title
Ghosal shone in team events as well. He helped India win men’s team gold at the Asian Games in Incheon in 2014. Later, he did it again at Hangzhou, which was held in 2023. Meanwhile, he also won two Asian Games singles silvers. Then, in 2022, he teamed up with Dipika Pallikal to win mixed doubles gold at the World Doubles Championships.
He retired from the PSA Tour in April 2024, at the age of 37. Even so, he said he hoped to keep playing for India. So that hope kept the Olympic dream alive for fans, and for him. Since then, he has spoken about giving back to the game, especially by boosting school participation in smaller cities.
Joshna Chinappa: Built to Last
Joshna Chinappa, born in Chennai on 15 September 1986, has been a headline name for more than two decades. In 2003, she became India’s first Asian junior champion. Later, in July 2016, she reached a career-high world ranking of number 10. She was the second Indian woman to break into the top 10, after Dipika Pallikal.
Her list of firsts keeps growing. In 2017, she became the first Indian to win the Asian Squash Championship, and she beat Pallikal in the final. Then, at the 2018 Asian Games, she beat eight-time world champion Nicol David and won singles bronze. Remarkably, she did all this after fighting back from a serious knee injury.
Her longevity stands out, too. She won gold at the 2022 World Doubles Championships, and the 2026 Asian Games brought two more medals. For instance, she and Velavan Senthilkumar took mixed doubles bronze. Beyond that, she helped the women’s team to bronze. In short, she’s still a force in Indian squash, and younger teammates lean on her experience.
Dipika Pallikal and the Doubles Breakthrough
Dipika Pallikal Karthik opened doors for Indian women’s squash. Back in December 2012, she became the first Indian woman to break into the world’s top 10. Because of that, she showed younger players a clear path to the top. Her influence is still visible in today’s squad.
Her best-known partnership came with Chinappa. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the pair won women’s doubles gold, which was India’s first Commonwealth Games medal in squash. Four years later, Pallikal and Ghosal took mixed doubles silver on the Gold Coast. Then they added mixed doubles bronze in Birmingham in 2022. As a result, her name sits beside Ghosal’s in the record books.
Anahat Singh: The Teenage Star
At just 18, Anahat Singh already ranks among the top Indian squash players of the present. She’s the reigning Asian Championships gold medallist, and in September 2026 she reached a career-high world ranking of 17. Earlier that year, she won the HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour title in Mumbai. Because she recovered from two games down against Egypt’s Farida Walid in the final, fans took notice.
Nagoya was her breakthrough on the big stage. In the semi-final, Anahat trailed Japan’s world number six, Satomi Watanabe, by two games. She then won 9–11, 11–13, 12–10, 11–6, 11–3. As a result, she became the first Indian woman to reach an Asian Games singles final. There, she lost to Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam 11–4, 11–4, 11–7.
Abhay Singh and the Men’s Squad
Abhay Singh has become the leading man in Indian squash since Ghosal’s retirement. At 27, he was ranked world number 24 in August 2026. Earlier, he won the Indian Open in March 2026, and he followed it with the Tuanku Muhriz Trophy in Seremban that August. He also holds an Asian Championships gold. Meanwhile, he received the Arjuna Award in 2024.
In Nagoya, Abhay beat Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan in straight games to reach the final. With that win, he became only the second Indian man after Ghosal to play an Asian Games singles final. Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow then won it 11–9, 11–5, 11–5. Notably, Ng Eain Yow had beaten him in all four of their earlier meetings. Even so, Abhay has said his big goals are an Asian Games gold and an Olympic place. He was also part of India’s gold-winning team at the 2025 SDAT Squash World Cup in Chennai.
The Wider Squad
Others are pushing hard as well. Velavan Senthilkumar, Veer Chotrani and Suraj Chand formed the men’s team core in Nagoya. However, India lost 1–2 to Malaysia in the semi-final, so the men took bronze. On the women’s side, meanwhile, Tanvi Khanna and Sameena Riaz joined Anahat and Chinappa. Together, they reached the semi-finals before losing 1–2 to Hong Kong.
What Sets These Players Apart
Beyond medals, the top Indian squash players share a few traits. They’ve all adapted to a sport that needs deep stamina and sharp tactics. Chinappa, for instance, travelled to many tournaments without a coach for a large part of her career. As a result, her climb to the top 10 stands out even more.
They also lean on each other. Ghosal and Pallikal won together, Chinappa and Pallikal won together, and Chinappa now plays mixed doubles with Velavan Senthilkumar, a younger partner. That pattern shows how experience passes down. In fact, it’s one reason the squad keeps producing medals across different events, from singles to team ties.
What Comes Next for Indian Squash
The next big target is Los Angeles. Because squash will have 16-player men’s and women’s singles draws in 2028, every place is precious. Malaysia’s Asian Games champions reportedly took the Asian berths. So India’s route now runs mainly through the rankings or the final qualifier. To follow each step, read our guide to squash at the 2028 Olympics.
New fans can also build their knowledge from the ground up. For the rules, start with our explainer on what is squash. To compare it with other racket sports, try squash vs badminton vs tennis. Meanwhile, Anahat and Abhay will keep climbing the rankings that decide everything. Because those lists lock in May 2028, every tournament from now on counts.
Key Takeaways
- Saurav Ghosal: The only Indian man in the world’s top 10, with 10 PSA titles and 13 national titles.
- Joshna Chinappa: A 2016 world No. 10 and 2017 Asian champion, still winning medals in 2026.
- Dipika Pallikal: The first Indian woman in the top 10, in December 2012.
- Anahat Singh: At 18, she reached world No. 17 and an Asian Games singles final.
- Abhay Singh: World No. 24 in August 2026 and the 2026 Asian Games singles silver medallist.
FAQs
Who is the best Indian male squash player ever?
Saurav Ghosal is widely seen as India’s finest, as the only Indian man to reach the world’s top 10.
What is Joshna Chinappa’s highest world ranking?
Joshna Chinappa reached a career-high world ranking of No. 10 in July 2016.
Who is Anahat Singh?
Anahat Singh is an 18-year-old Indian player who won Asian Games silver in 2026 and reached world No. 17.
Did India win medals in squash at the 2026 Asian Games?
Yes, India won two singles silvers and three bronzes in squash.
Has any Indian squash player qualified for the 2028 Olympics?
No Indian player has been reported as qualified as of October 2026.
Conclusion
Since the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the top Indian squash players have carried the sport from small clubs to the Asian Games podium. While Ghosal and Chinappa set the standard, Pallikal opened doors, and Anahat and Abhay now lead the charge. Because squash debuts at the Olympics in 2028, the next chapter could be the biggest yet. So for Indian fans, that makes every ranking point and every rally worth watching.
