India Launches Squash Tour 2025-26 Ahead of LA 2028 Olympics
Introduction to the Squash Tour 2025-26
New Delhi, July 31: In a significant advancement for squash in India, particularly with the sport's upcoming debut at the LA 2028 Olympics, the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) has unveiled the Squash Tour 2025-26.
Partnership with HCL
This initiative is in collaboration with HCL, which has been a steadfast supporter of Indian squash since 2016, contributing to structured training programs, coaching, referee development, and grassroots initiatives.
Expanded Tour and Competition
The tour has now expanded to six cities, featuring a Professional Squash Association (PSA) Challenger Tour series that brings top-tier competition to India. This series offers essential PSA ranking points, increased prize money, and a better pathway for local athletes to shine on the global stage.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition, which saw significant improvements in Indian players' PSA rankings, the revamped 2025-26 season will include Jaipur, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Delhi, with the latter two cities newly added to the roster.
Prize Pool and Tournament Format
-Record Prize Pool and Enhanced Format
-One PSA Challenger 15K event (Chennai)
-Two PSA Challenger 9K events (Jaipur, Mumbai)
-Three PSA Challenger 6K events (Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad)
All tournaments will feature equal prize money for both men and women, with champions receiving $15,000, $9,000, or $6,000 based on the event tier. Each tournament will adopt a 24-player knockout format, allowing the top 8 seeds to receive byes into the second round. The Tour is open to PSA-registered players aged 15 and older.
Upcoming National Championship
The National Squash Championship 2025 is scheduled to take place in New Delhi from August 23 to 28.
With backing from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Sports Authority of India, the Tour aims to attract new players to the PSA circuit with purses of $3,000.
Statements from Officials
Rajat Chandolia, Associate Vice President and Head of Brand at HCL Group, stated, “With squash set to debut at the 2028 Olympics, we are committed to establishing a structured pipeline that enables Indian players to excel on the world stage. Our ongoing partnership with SRFI is focused on enhancing every facet of the sport's ecosystem in India.”
Cyrus Poncha, Secretary General of SRFI, expressed gratitude towards the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Sports Authority of India, and HCL for their continuous support since 2016, which has been vital in developing Indian squash talent. He noted that the increased prize money and expanded tournament opportunities this year will further accelerate player development, allowing more athletes to gain exposure, earn PSA points, and prepare for prestigious international competitions, including the Olympics.
Recent Achievements in Indian Squash
The announcement comes during a remarkable period for Indian squash. In July 2025, Anahat Singh, who began her PSA journey in January 2024 ranked 129, climbed to World No. 54 and secured a historic bronze at the World Junior Squash Championships. Other notable performances include:
-Abhay Singh rising from the 200s to a career-best World No. 35
-Ramit Tandon (No. 28), Velavan Senthil Kumar (No. 39), Veer Chotrani (No. 62), and Tanvi Khanna (No. 69) are all advancing in the global rankings.
This partnership's impact is also evident in India's overall medal tally, which has increased from 11 to 18 medals at the Asian and Commonwealth Games during this timeframe. Recently, India celebrated a hat-trick of gold medals at the 2025 Asian Doubles Squash Championships.
Squash India Tour 2025-26 Schedule
-Jaipur – August 4-8 (Sawai Man Singh Stadium)
-Mumbai – September 8-12
-Bengaluru – September 26-31
-Chennai – December 1-5
-Ahmedabad – January 27-31, 2026.
-Delhi – February 3-7, 2026.