Abhay-Velavan clinch third straight Asian Doubles Squash title in Sarawak
Synopsis
Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar have now won the Asian Doubles Squash Championships three years running — a continental hat-trick that cements their status as the dominant force in Asian men's doubles. India's medal sweep across all three categories in Sarawak signals a programme that is deepening, not just peaking.
Key Takeaways
Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar won the men's doubles gold at the Asian Doubles Squash Championships for a third consecutive year on 21 June in Sarawak, Malaysia .
They defeated Pakistan's Nasir Iqbal and Noor Zaman 7-11, 11-7, 11-2 in 47 minutes in a repeat of last year's final.
Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan claimed bronze in women's doubles after losing to Malaysian top seeds 9-11, 7-11 .
Joshna and Velavan also took bronze in mixed doubles, going down 8-11, 11-8, 8-11 to Malaysia's Ainaa Amani and Md Kamal.
India finished with medals across all three categories at the tournament.
Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar claimed the men's doubles crown for a third consecutive year at the Asian Doubles Squash Championships in Sarawak, Malaysia on 21 June, completing a remarkable hat-trick of continental titles. India also secured medals across all three categories at the tournament.
The Final: A Comeback Win
The top-seeded Indian pair faced a familiar opponent in the final — Pakistan's second seeds Nasir Iqbal and Noor Zaman, a repeat of last year's summit clash. After dropping the opening game 7-11, Abhay and Velavan regrouped decisively, winning the next two 11-7 and 11-2 to seal the title in 47 minutes.
The turnaround came on the back of sharper court geometry — the duo began exploiting front and back corners with a combination of attacking squash, precise touch, and superior control to overwhelm their opponents in the final two games.
Road to the Final
Abhay and Velavan produced two strong performances en route to the gold-medal match. They edged past Japan's Naoki Hayashi and Ren Makino 11-3, 10-12, 11-5 in a hard-fought quarter-final, before defeating Malaysia's Sanjay Jeeva and Duncan Lee 11-7, 11-9 in the semi-finals.
Women's and Mixed Doubles: Bronze for India
Women's doubles second seeds Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan were beaten by Malaysian top seeds Ainaa Amani and Yee Xin Ying 9-11, 7-11 in the semi-finals, settling for bronze. In the mixed doubles, the second-seeded pair of Joshna and Velavan pushed Malaysia's Ainaa Amani and Md Kamal before going down 8-11, 11-8, 8-11 in a closely contested semi-final to also finish third.
Other Indian Results
India's second men's doubles pairing of Rahul Baitha and Suraj Chand failed to advance from Pool B after a second consecutive defeat, including a loss to Pakistan's Iqbal and Zaman. The women's pair of Janet Vidhi and Pooja Arthi finished sixth in their category.
With gold in men's doubles and bronze in both women's and mixed doubles, India's overall haul underlines its growing depth in the continental squash circuit. The focus now shifts to defending this dominance at the next edition of the championships.
Point of View
Which is a harder and more credible form of dominance than wire-to-wire victories. The broader India medal sweep — bronze in women's and mixed doubles — also suggests the national programme is producing depth, not just a single elite pair. The real question is whether this continental dominance translates at the World Doubles level, where the competition pool is considerably wider.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Asian Doubles Squash Championships 2025 men's title?
India's Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar won the men's doubles title at the Asian Doubles Squash Championships in Sarawak, Malaysia on 21 June. It was their third consecutive men's doubles gold at the continental championships.
Who did Abhay and Velavan beat in the final?
They defeated Pakistan's second-seeded pair Nasir Iqbal and Noor Zaman 7-11, 11-7, 11-2 in 47 minutes. The match was a repeat of the previous year's final at the same championship.
How did India perform overall at the Asian Doubles Squash Championships 2025?
India won medals in all three categories. Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar took gold in men's doubles, while Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan claimed bronze in women's doubles, and Joshna and Velavan finished third in mixed doubles.
Why is this Asian Doubles Squash title significant for India?
It is the third successive men's doubles title for Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar, establishing them as the most dominant pair in Asian doubles squash. Combined with India's medals across all three categories, it reflects growing depth in the country's squash programme.
Where were the Asian Doubles Squash Championships 2025 held?
The 2025 Asian Doubles Squash Championships were held in Sarawak, Malaysia, with the finals taking place on 21 June.
