Rouqaia Othman – Chennaionline

The Chennai leg of the HCL India Squash Tour concluded at the Indian Squash Academy, bringing together 48 players from seven nations for a five-day PSA Challenger event held from April 16–20, 2026. Organized in partnership with the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) and supported by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the tournament featured competitive men’s and women’s draws with a prize purse of USD 6,000 each. The event witnessed high-quality matches across both categories, with players competing for valuable PSA ranking points. In the men’s final, Suraj Kumar Chand from India delivered a composed, high-intensity performance to defeat Jeongmin Ryu from South Korea and clinch the title. In the women’s category, Rouqaia Othman from Egypt combined consistency with aggressive shot-making to overcome Harleein Tan from Malysia, capping off a week of closely contested matches. The Chennai leg saw a strong Indian presence alongside international participation from Sri Lanka, Egypt, Malaysia, and Korea, with multiple Indian players progressing into the latter stages. The tournament highlighted the importance of regular international-calibre competition within India while showcasing the growing depth of the country’s professional squash ecosystem. The HCL India Squash Tour is part of a broader effort to create a structured competitive pathway for Indian players, with multiple PSA Challenger events planned across the year. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between domestic and international competition by bringing ranking opportunities closer to home. Commenting on the finale, Sundar Mahalingam, President – Strategy, HCL Group, 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.” Cyrus Poncha, Secretary General, Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), said, “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.” Suraj Kumar Chand, winner of Men's Final, HCL PSA Squash Tour, Chennai leg, 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 HCL India Squash Tour will continue with upcoming legs across key cities, as part of a sustained effort to strengthen India’s domestic squash circuit and provide players with consistent access to international-level competition. HCL has been supporting the development of squash in India through long-term partnerships aimed at building a strong pipeline of professional players.