Mandaviya hails Joshna, Velavan's Asian Games squash bronze
Synopsis
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated TAGG Athletes Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar on winning the Mixed Doubles Squash bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, amplifying India's growing medal presence in racket sports.
Key Takeaways
Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar won the Bronze Medal in Mixed Doubles Squash at the Asian Games 2026 .
The Games are being hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
Both players are designated TAGG Athletes , placing them within India's elite athlete support framework.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya publicly congratulated the pair on 26 September 2026 .
The win adds to India's growing medal tally in squash at continental multi-sport events.
A squash court in Aichi-Nagoya just delivered India another medal moment. Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar on Saturday, 26 September 2026, after the pair clinched a Bronze Medal in Mixed Doubles Squash at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan.
Posting under the hashtag #Cheer4Bharat, the minister extended his 'heartiest congratulations' to both players, noting that they are TAGG Athletes — a designation that places them within a structured support framework for elite Indian sports talent.
Joshna Chinappa: Squash's long-distance runner
Joshna Chinappa is one of Indian squash's most decorated names, having represented the country across multiple editions of the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Her consistency at the highest level of the sport has made her a benchmark for the next generation of Indian squash players. This bronze adds another chapter to a career defined by longevity and big-stage performance. Velavan Senthilkumar competes prominently in doubles formats at the international level, and his pairing with Chinappa in mixed doubles brought together experience and competitive instinct in equal measure.TAGG Athletes and the push beyond cricket
Both players carry the TAGG Athlete tag — a marker of institutional support that the Sports Ministry has increasingly used to signal investment in disciplines outside cricket. Sports ministers routinely amplify medal wins from multi-sport events as part of a deliberate strategy to build public recognition for Olympic and Asian Games sports. The Aichi-Nagoya Games provide exactly that platform, and a squash bronze in the mixed doubles category is the kind of result that extends the story of Indian racket sports on the continental stage. With the squash competition still unfolding in Japan, further Indian results in the individual and other doubles categories will be closely watched.Point of View
The bronze on this stage marks a significant rise in profile at the international level. The TAGG athlete branding in the minister's post signals institutional ownership of the win — a deliberate narrative choice that ties individual achievement to policy investment.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar?
Joshna Chinappa is one of India's most experienced squash players, a multi-time Asian Games and Commonwealth Games competitor. Velavan Senthilkumar is an Indian squash player who competes in doubles formats at international level.
What medal did India win in squash at Asian Games 2026?
India won a Bronze Medal in Mixed Doubles Squash at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, through the pair of Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are being hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
What is a TAGG Athlete?
TAGG Athlete is a designation used within India's elite athlete support framework. Both Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar carry this tag, indicating structured institutional backing from the Sports Ministry.
What did Mansukh Mandaviya say about the squash bronze?
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya extended his 'heartiest congratulations' to both players on 26 September 2026 , posting under the hashtag #Cheer4Bharat on X.
