Celebrating success in squash
The 8th edition of the Times Of India Sports Awards (TOISA) will be held on March 21, 2026 in Lucknow, to honor the achievements and inspiring journeys of India’s best athletes across multiple sports.
TOISA 2025 will honor performances made between January 1 and December 31, 2025, highlighting iconic moments from major international tournaments and world championships. With over 45 award categories, the event will celebrate both legendary artists and promising new talents who have brought pride to the nation.The award winners will be selected by a distinguished jury of sporting icons, including Abhinav Bindra, BR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Devendra Gajaria, Sharath Kamal and Leander Paes, ensuring a trusted and expert assessment of excellence in Indian sports.
Squash – maleAbhay SinghDate of birth: September 3, 1998Place of birth: Chennai, Tamil NaduSports: squashThe most important achievements in 2025:SDAT Squash World Cup: Gold (Mixed Team)Asian Squash Doubles Championship: Gold (Men’s Doubles)Asian Squash Doubles Championship: Gold (Mixed Doubles)PSA Hyder Award (New York): GoldIndia’s top-ranked player, Abhay Singh, has enjoyed a fantastic year in 2025, consolidating his dominance both individually and as a team.
He led India to a historic first gold medal at the SDAT Squash World Cup in his hometown, Chennai. On the continental stage, he claimed a double gold medal at the Asian Doubles Championships, successfully defended the men’s doubles title with Velavan Senthilkumar and captured the mixed crown alongside Anahat Singh.
Additionally, he captured his 11th PSA Tour title at the Hyder Trophy in New York, reaching a career-high world No. 1 ranking.
26 during the year.Sourav GhosalDate of birth: August 10, 1986Place of birth: Kolkata, West BengalSports: squashThe most important achievements in 2025:Octane Sydney Classic (PSA): GoldAfter briefly stepping away from the professional circuit, the legendary Sourav Ghosal made a triumphant ‘return’ in early 2025 by winning the Sydney Classic in Australia, losing just one match throughout the tournament to secure his 11th PSA title.
Despite his advanced age and frequent injuries, Ghosal has continued to be a guiding force for Indian squash. His resilience throughout 2025 has cemented his legacy as the greatest squash player India has ever produced.villavan SenthilkumarDate of birth: March 26, 1998Place of birth: Salem, Tamil NaduSports: squashThe most important achievements in 2025:National Squash Championship: Gold (Men’s Singles)Asian Squash Doubles Championship: Gold (Men’s Doubles)Asian Individual Squash Championship: BronzeSDAT Squash World Cup: Gold (Mixed Team)Velavan Senthilkumar reached new heights in 2025, breaking into the world’s top 40 for the first time.
He regained the senior national title in a high-intensity final and was a vital part of the gold medal-winning team at the World Cup in Chennai. His partnership with Abhay Singh remained unbeatable in Asia, where they successfully defended the Asian Tag Team title. With his bronze medal at the Asian Individual Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Villafane has proven that he is now a consistent medal threat at the highest levels of international squash.Mahesh MangaonkarDate of birth: March 23, 1994Place of birth: Mumbai, MaharashtraSports: squashThe most important achievements in 2025:PSA World Championship: Round of 32Finnish National Championship: Gold (as resident competitor)PSA Tour: Two-time finalist (competitor level)While balancing his professional career with coaching roles in Europe, Mahesh Mangaonkar remains a key international representative for India in 2025.
He showcased his experience at the PSA World Championship, where he put up a spirited battle against top-seeded opponents. On the regional circuit, he continued his dominance in Scandinavia, capturing national titles as a resident, while simultaneously reaching multiple finals on the PSA Challenger Tour.Squash – femaleAnahat SinghDate of birth: March 13, 2008Place of birth: DelhiSports: squashThe most important achievements in 2025:SDAT Squash World Cup: Gold (Mixed Team)National Squash Championship: Gold (Women’s Singles)Asian Squash Championships Doubles: Gold Medal (Women’s and Mixed Doubles)World Junior Squash Championship: BronzePSA Awards 2025: Challenger Player of the Season and Young Player of the SeasonAt just 17 years old, Anahat Singh has cemented her place as the face of Indian squash in 2025.
She completed a historic hat-trick of major national titles and India secured their first gold at the Squash World Cup in Chennai. At international level, she ended India’s 15-year drought at the World Junior Championships by winning the bronze medal and secured her first top-10 win by upsetting world No. 7 Tin Gillies at the Canadian Open.
Her dominance on the PSA Challenger Tour, where she maintained a 29-match unbeaten run, earned her two prestigious PSA World Season Awards.Joshna ChinappaDate of birth: September 15, 1986Place of birth: Chennai, Tamil NaduSports: squashThe most important achievements in 2025:SDAT Squash World Cup: Gold (Mixed Team)Japan Open (PSA Challenger): GoldAsian Squash Championships Doubles: Gold Medal (Women’s Doubles)SRFI Indian Open: Silver (singles)Proving that age is just a number, 39-year-old veteran Joshna Chinappa has enjoyed a remarkable renaissance in 2025.
She registered a crucial win in the opening match of the World Cup final against Hong Kong to help India clinch the gold medal. In October, she claimed her 11th PSA title at the Japan Open in Yokohama, defeating younger and higher-ranked opponents to break into the world’s top 100. Despite finishing runner-up to Anahat Singh at the Indian Open, her tactical brilliance and experienced leadership remained indispensable to the national team’s success.Tanvi KhannaDate of birth: July 23, 1995Place of birth: DelhiSports: squashThe most important achievements in 2025:HCL Indian Squash Tour (Mumbai): GoldHCL Indian Squash Tour (Jaipur): SilverAsian Individual Squash Championship: Quarter-finalsTanvi Khanna has successfully returned to form in 2025 after an injury recovery period. She claimed her first title of the season at the HCL PSA Challenger tournament in Mumbai, where she upset the Egyptian top seed in the final.
Her consistency at both domestic and Asian levels saw her reach the final in Jaipur and the final stages of the Asian Individual Championships in Malaysia. Throughout the year, Tanvi remained among India’s top 3 players, providing vital depth to the women’s national team in international team competitions.Deepika Pallikal KarthikDate of birth: September 21, 1991Place of birth: Chennai, Tamil NaduSports: squashThe most important achievements in 2025:Asian Squash Championships Doubles: Silver (Mixed Doubles)World Squash Championships: Main Draw (Chicago)PSA Tour: Reached the semi-finals at the Australian OpenIn 2025, Dipika Pallikal Karthik focused her competitive energy on high-stakes doubles and select PSA World Tour events. She won a silver medal at the Asian Doubles Championships alongside Sourav Ghosal and represented India at the PSA World Championships in Chicago. While balancing her career with her role as a prominent sporting icon, she continued to compete at the highest level on the global circuit, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and serving as a vital mentor to younger players at the national camp.