Sonowal hails Joshna, Velavan's Squash Mixed Doubles Bronze
Synopsis
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal congratulated Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar on claiming Squash Mixed Doubles Bronze at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, calling it a moment of immense national pride.
Key Takeaways
Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar won the Bronze medal in Squash Mixed Doubles at the 2026 Asian Games .
The games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan — the quadrennial continental multi-sport event.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal publicly congratulated the duo on 26 September 2026 via X.
Joshna Chinappa is India's most decorated modern-era squash player, with multiple national titles and prior Asian Games and Commonwealth Games medals.
The bronze adds to India's growing squash medal tally at the Asian Games and contributes to the country's overall medal count at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
A bronze medal in squash mixed doubles at the 2026 Asian Games — and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was among the first to mark the moment, congratulating Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar on Saturday, 26 September 2026 for their podium finish at the continental multi-sport showpiece in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Taking to X, Sonowal wrote: 'Congratulations to Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar on clinching the Bronze medal in the Squash Mixed Doubles. You have brought immense pride to the nation with this stellar podium finish.' The post carried the #Cheer4Bharat and #AsianGames2026 hashtags alongside the tricolour emoji and the bronze medal icon.
Joshna Chinappa: A career built for moments like this
Joshna Chinappa is India's most decorated squash player in the modern era, having accumulated multiple national titles and international medals across Asian Games and Commonwealth Games cycles. Her longevity at the top level of the sport — competing against players a decade younger — makes every podium finish a statement about Indian squash's depth as much as her individual brilliance.
Velavan Senthilkumar, a fixture in both singles and doubles circuits at the national and international level, complemented Chinappa in the mixed doubles draw, and the pair's bronze adds a fresh chapter to India's growing squash medal story at Asian Games.
India's squash medal thread at the Asian Games
Squash has quietly become one of India's more reliable medal sources at the Asian Games. The mixed doubles format demands seamless court chemistry alongside individual skill — making this bronze a team achievement in the truest sense. India's broader medal tally at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 continues to build, with squash now contributing to the count.
Sonowal's congratulatory post follows a pattern seen across Indian ministerial accounts: senior cabinet members extending public recognition to athletes the moment results are confirmed, amplifying national pride at scale. As Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and a former Chief Minister of Assam, Sonowal carries significant political and public-reach weight — his acknowledgement places the pair's achievement squarely in the national conversation.
India's remaining events at Aichi-Nagoya still hold the promise of more metal. For now, Chinappa and Senthilkumar have delivered — and the nation is watching the rest of the squad with the same expectation.
Point of View
But it underlines how Indian squash has graduated from a niche sport into one that reliably draws cabinet-level public attention after major continental competitions. Joshna Chinappa's continued presence on Asian Games podiums across multiple cycles is itself a policy-relevant data point: it reflects the sustained investment India has made in individual racket sports through national academies and international exposure funding. The mixed doubles format, combining two experienced domestic campaigners, signals a maturing squad-building approach in Indian squash rather than reliance on a single star. As India's Asian Games medal tally builds at Aichi-Nagoya, each sport's contribution — squash included — feeds into the broader narrative of India as a diversified multi-sport power, not merely a cricket-and-badminton nation.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India win a medal in squash at the 2026 Asian Games?
Yes. Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar claimed the Bronze medal in Squash Mixed Doubles at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Who is Joshna Chinappa?
Joshna Chinappa is India's most decorated modern-era squash player, holding multiple national titles and international medals from events including the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
Who is Velavan Senthilkumar?
Velavan Senthilkumar is an Indian squash player who competes in both singles and doubles formats at national and international levels. He paired with Joshna Chinappa in the 2026 Asian Games Mixed Doubles event.
Where are the 2026 Asian Games being held?
The 2026 Asian Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
Why did Sarbananda Sonowal congratulate Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar?
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal congratulated the pair on winning the Bronze medal in Squash Mixed Doubles at the 2026 Asian Games , calling it a moment of immense pride for the nation.
