CM Bhajan Lal congratulates India's squash duo on Asian Games bronze
Synopsis
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma congratulated squash players Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar on winning the mixed doubles bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, calling their achievement a moment of national pride.
Key Takeaways
Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar won the mixed doubles squash bronze medal at Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma posted his congratulations on X on 26 September 2026 .
CM Sharma praised the pair for their 'remarkable coordination, skill and fighting spirit' on the world stage.
Squash has been part of the Asian Games programme since 1998 , with India competing regularly across editions.
Joshna Chinappa is one of India's most experienced international squash players, with a career spanning multiple Asian and Commonwealth Games.
A bronze medal in mixed doubles squash at the Asian Games 2026 — and the congratulations are already pouring in from the highest offices. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma took to X on Saturday, 26 September 2026, to applaud Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar for their podium finish in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, calling their achievement a moment of immense national pride.
In his post, CM Sharma offered 'हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएं' ('heartfelt congratulations and best wishes'), praising the pair for demonstrating 'remarkable coordination, skill and fighting spirit' on the global sporting stage. He added that 'every Indian is extremely proud' of the duo and extended his wishes for their future matches and careers.
Joshna and Velavan's road to the bronze
Joshna Chinappa is one of Indian squash's most decorated names, with a career spanning multiple Asian Games and Commonwealth Games campaigns that has made her a household name in the sport. Velavan Senthilkumar has built his reputation competing at the international level in both singles and doubles formats. Together, the pair navigated the mixed doubles draw at Aichi-Nagoya to claim India's bronze — a result that adds to the country's growing footprint in a sport that has been part of the Asian Games programme since 1998.
India's squash moment on the Asian stage
Squash has quietly become one of India's more consistent medal-hunting disciplines at the continental games. The sport's inclusion in the Asian Games since 1998 has given Indian players a recurring platform, and the country's players have steadily raised the bar with each edition. A mixed doubles bronze at a major multi-sport event underlines the depth building in Indian squash beyond the singles circuit.
Indian political leaders regularly take to social media to celebrate athletes' international results — a practice that both amplifies an achievement to a wider audience and signals the government's broader push to build a sports culture across the country. CM Sharma's post follows that established pattern, channelling the moment into a note of national pride.
With more events still to come at Asian Games 2026, all eyes now turn to whether India's squash contingent — and Joshna and Velavan individually — can add further hardware before the Aichi-Nagoya curtain falls.
Point of View
Pro-youth image at minimal cost. What makes this post notable is the relative niche profile of the sport — squash rarely commands prime-time attention — suggesting a deliberate effort to broaden the celebratory net beyond cricket and marquee athletics. For Indian squash, high-level political visibility at a major games moment can only help its case for greater institutional funding and grassroots investment. The pattern also points to social media increasingly serving as the primary protocol channel for official sporting tributes in the post-2020 era.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar?
Joshna Chinappa is one of India's most accomplished squash players, with a long career at international events including Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Velavan Senthilkumar is an Indian squash player who competes at the international level in singles and doubles formats.
What medal did India win in mixed doubles squash at Asian Games 2026?
India won the bronze medal in the mixed doubles squash event at the Asian Games 2026, held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, through the pairing of Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Why did Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma post about squash players?
CM Bhajan Lal Sharma congratulated Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar after they won the mixed doubles squash bronze medal at Asian Games 2026, a common practice among Indian political leaders to celebrate athletes' international achievements.
When did squash become part of the Asian Games?
Squash has been a part of the Asian Games programme since its inclusion in 1998, with India regularly fielding players across editions.
