Rijiju Hails Joshna & Velavan's Asian Games Squash Bronze
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju congratulated squash pair Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar after they won the Mixed Doubles Bronze Medal at the Asian Games 2026, hailing it as a fantastic performance for India.
Key Takeaways
Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar won the Bronze Medal in Squash Mixed Doubles at the Asian Games 2026 .
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju posted congratulations on 26 September 2026 under #Cheer4Bharat .
Joshna Chinappa is a veteran of multiple Asian Games and Commonwealth Games podiums, one of India's most decorated squash players.
Velavan Senthilkumar is an established presence in India's doubles squash circuit at national and international level.
India has built a consistent record of squash medals at successive Asian Games editions, reflecting the sport's growing competitive depth.
A squash court at the Asian Games 2026 delivered one of India's feel-good moments on Saturday, 26 September, as the Mixed Doubles pair of Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar clinched a Bronze Medal — and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju was among the first from the government to mark the achievement.
Posting on X under the hashtag #Cheer4Bharat, Rijiju wrote: 'Congratulations to Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar on securing Bronze Medal in the Squash Mixed Doubles event at the Asian Games 2026. A fantastic performance by the duo!'
Joshna Chinappa's long road to another Asian Games podium
Joshna Chinappa is among Indian squash's most decorated names — a multiple medallist across Asian Games and Commonwealth Games editions, she has been the face of the women's circuit in the country for well over a decade. The Chennai-born player's consistency at the continental level has made her a benchmark for the generation behind her.
Velavan Senthilkumar has carved a reputation in the doubles format at the national and international level, and the partnership with Chinappa in the Mixed Doubles discipline represents Indian squash's growing depth beyond singles. Together, they brought home a medal that adds to India's tally in a sport that rarely makes front-page noise — but always delivers.
Squash's quiet rise in India's Asian Games medal count
India has fielded competitive squash squads at successive Asian Games editions, and the sport has become a reliable source of medals at the continental level. The Mixed Doubles format demands not just individual brilliance but chemistry, quick transitions, and tactical coordination under pressure — making this bronze a team effort in the truest sense.
Ministers routinely post congratulations following podium finishes at multi-sport events, but Rijiju's portfolio as a senior government figure and his long-standing connection to the sports ecosystem lend his acknowledgement an institutional weight. The government's public recognition of disciplines like squash — often overshadowed by cricket and athletics — signals a broader push to celebrate achievement across the sporting spectrum.
India's campaign at the 2026 Asian Games continues, and every bronze like this one feeds into a national narrative: that Indian sport is wider, deeper, and more competitive than it has ever been.
Point of View
Requiring coordination as much as individual skill, adds a dimension to India's squash story that goes beyond headline singles rankings. As India's Asian Games 2026 campaign unfolds, moments like this one quietly reinforce the argument for deeper investment in racket sports infrastructure and coaching pipelines.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the squash Mixed Doubles bronze at Asian Games 2026?
Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar won the Bronze Medal in the Squash Mixed Doubles event at the Asian Games 2026 .
Who is Joshna Chinappa?
Joshna Chinappa is one of India's most decorated squash players, a multiple medallist at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games who has represented India at the top level for over a decade.
Who is Velavan Senthilkumar?
Velavan Senthilkumar is an Indian squash player known for competing in doubles formats at national and international tournaments, and paired with Joshna Chinappa in the Mixed Doubles event at Asian Games 2026.
What did Kiren Rijiju say about India's squash bronze?
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju posted on X calling it 'a fantastic performance by the duo' and congratulating both Chinappa and Senthilkumar on their bronze medal.
How has India performed in squash at the Asian Games historically?
India has fielded competitive squash squads at successive Asian Games editions and the sport has consistently delivered medals at the continental level, reflecting the country's growing depth in racket sports.
