CM Rekha Gupta Hails Joshna, Velavan's Asian Games Squash Medal
Synopsis
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta congratulated squash players Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar after they clinched a mixed doubles medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, praising their court craft and fighting spirit.
Key Takeaways
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta publicly congratulated the Indian squash pair on 26 September 2026 .
Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar won a medal in Mixed Doubles Squash at the 2026 Asian Games .
The Games are being hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
Gupta cited the pair's 'sharp court craft and fighting spirit' in her congratulatory message.
India has a sustained history of squash podium finishes at successive Asian and Commonwealth Games cycles.
India's remaining squash events and final medal tally at the Games are still to be determined.
A mixed doubles partnership forged in speed and precision just delivered India another moment to cheer at the 2026 Asian Games — and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was among the first to mark it. On Saturday, 26 September 2026, Gupta took to X to congratulate Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar on their medal-winning run in Mixed Doubles Squash at the Games being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Gupta praised the pair's 'sharp court craft and fighting spirit,' calling their result 'another proud chapter to India's Asian Games campaign.' The congratulatory post, shared under the #AsianGames2026 hashtag alongside the Indian tricolour, reflects the national attention squash has been drawing at successive multi-sport events.
Joshna Chinappa: India's Squash Stalwart
Joshna Chinappa is one of India's most decorated squash players, having accumulated multiple national titles and international podium finishes across Asian Games and Commonwealth Games cycles. Her longevity at the elite level is a testament to relentless court discipline — a quality that translates naturally into the high-tempo, split-second demands of mixed doubles.Velavan Senthilkumar's Doubles Pedigree
Velavan Senthilkumar has built his reputation primarily through doubles competition on the national and international circuit. Pairing with Chinappa, his ability to cover width and construct rally-ending angles gave the partnership a complementary balance of experience and athleticism.India's Squash Push at Asian Games
India has increasingly invested in squash as a medal avenue at continental multi-sport events. The mixed doubles format, in particular, has seen growing Indian emphasis over recent cycles as selectors blend the singles depth of players like Chinappa with specialists from the doubles circuit. Each podium finish builds the sport's visibility and feeds the pipeline of younger players watching from the stands — or from courts across Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai. With India's squash fixtures at the 2026 Asian Games still unfolding, this medal adds meaningful weight to the national tally — and signals that the country's racket sports ambitions extend well beyond badminton and table tennis.Point of View
Such visibility from top-tier leaders matters: the sport competes for funding, infrastructure, and public mindshare against far larger properties. Chinappa and Senthilkumar's result at Aichi-Nagoya adds to an incremental but real pattern of India treating squash as a credible multi-sport medal sport rather than a niche pursuit, a shift that has been building across the last three Asian Games cycles.
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 multiple national titles and international medals. Velavan Senthilkumar is an Indian squash player specialising in doubles competition at national and international levels.
What medal did India win in mixed doubles squash at Asian Games 2026?
India's Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar won a medal in Mixed Doubles Squash at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, though the specific colour of the medal was not specified in the announcement.
Where are the 2026 Asian Games being held?
The 2026 Asian Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
Why did Delhi CM Rekha Gupta congratulate the squash players?
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta congratulated Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar on their medal-winning performance in Mixed Doubles Squash at the 2026 Asian Games , calling it a proud chapter in India's campaign.
How has India performed in squash at previous Asian Games?
India has registered occasional podium finishes in both individual and doubles squash events across successive Asian Games cycles, with the mixed doubles format receiving increased focus in recent editions.
