Asian Doubles Squash: Abhay-Velavan reach final to face Pakistan
Synopsis
India's top-seeded men's doubles pair Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar are one win away from retaining the Asian Doubles Squash title, setting up a high-stakes final against Pakistan's Nasir Iqbal and Noor Zaman in Sarawak. Meanwhile, India claimed two bronze medals in the women's and mixed doubles — a bittersweet day for the squad.
Key Takeaways
Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar advanced to the 3rd Asian Doubles Squash Championships final on 20 June in Sarawak, Malaysia .
They defeated Japan's Hayashi-Makino 11-3, 10-12, 11-5 and Malaysia's Jeeva-Lee 11-7, 11-9 on the same day.
Sunday's final is against Pakistan's second seeds Nasir Iqbal and Noor Zaman .
Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan won bronze in women's doubles after losing 9-11, 7-11 to Malaysia's top seeds.
Joshna and Velavan claimed mixed doubles bronze after a 8-11, 11-8, 8-11 semi-final loss to Malaysia.
Rahul Baitha and Suraj Chand were eliminated at the group stage in men's doubles.
Top seeds Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar have advanced to the final of the 3rd Asian Doubles Squash Championships in Sarawak, Malaysia, on Saturday, 20 June, keeping India's title defence firmly alive. The defending champions will face Pakistan's second-seeded pair of Nasir Iqbal and Noor Zaman in Sunday's summit clash.
Route to the Final
Abhay and Velavan navigated two demanding matches on Saturday to secure their place in the final. They opened the day with a hard-fought quarter-final victory over Japan's Naoki Hayashi and Ren Makino, winning 11-3, 10-12, 11-5, before stepping up their performance in the semi-finals to overcome Malaysia's Sanjay Jeeva and Duncan Lee 11-7, 11-9.
Their run to the final is built on a flawless group-stage campaign. The Indian pair topped Pool A with victories over South Korea's Oh Seojin and MinWoo Lee, followed by a straight-games win against Hong Kong's Shing Fung Lam and Yat Long Chung.
Women's Doubles: Bronze for Joshna and Rathika
India's campaign in the women's doubles ended at the semi-final stage. Second seeds Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan fell to Malaysian top seeds Ainaa Amani and Yee Xin Ying, losing 9-11, 7-11 to settle for the bronze medal. The pair had been dominant through the group stage, winning all four fixtures in Pool B, including a straight-games win over Singapore's Wai Lynn Au Yeong and Naisha Singh.
Mixed Doubles: Another Bronze for India
Joshna's mixed doubles campaign also concluded at the penultimate stage. Partnering Velavan Senthilkumar, the second-seeded Indian combination pushed Malaysia's Ainaa Amani and Md Kamal before going down 8-11, 11-8, 8-11 in a tightly contested semi-final. The result earned the pair a bronze medal, mirroring their podium finish in the event the previous year. The duo had entered the knockouts in strong form, finishing unbeaten in Pool B after victories over Singapore and two South Korean pairs.
Men's Doubles: Other Indian Pair Exits
India's second men's doubles entry, Rahul Baitha and Suraj Chand, failed to progress from the group stage after suffering their second defeat in Pool B — a loss to the very same Pakistan pair of Nasir Iqbal and Noor Zaman that Abhay and Velavan must now overcome to retain the title.
What's at Stake on Sunday
A victory for Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar on Sunday would confirm a successful title defence for India at the 3rd Asian Doubles Squash Championships. The final against Pakistan's second seeds sets up the tournament's most anticipated clash, with both pairs having gone unbeaten through their respective routes to the summit match.
Point of View
But the real story is structural depth — or the lack of it. Abhay and Velavan are carrying the entire men's campaign while a second Indian pair, Baitha and Chand, failed to exit the group stage. The women's and mixed doubles bronze medals are creditable but represent missed opportunities against Malaysian opponents India had beaten in the group rounds. Sunday's final against Pakistan is not just a title-defence moment — it is a referendum on whether Indian squash's doubles programme has genuine depth or is reliant on one elite pair.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar facing in the Asian Doubles Squash final?
They will face Pakistan's second-seeded pair of Nasir Iqbal and Noor Zaman in the men's doubles final on Sunday at the 3rd Asian Doubles Squash Championships in Sarawak, Malaysia.
How did Abhay and Velavan reach the final?
The top-seeded Indian pair topped Pool A unbeaten, then defeated Japan's Naoki Hayashi and Ren Makino 11-3, 10-12, 11-5 in the quarter-final and Malaysia's Sanjay Jeeva and Duncan Lee 11-7, 11-9 in the semi-final.
What happened to India in the women's doubles?
Second seeds Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan lost 9-11, 7-11 to Malaysian top seeds Ainaa Amani and Yee Xin Ying in the semi-final, settling for the bronze medal.
Did India win any medals in the mixed doubles?
Yes, Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar claimed the mixed doubles bronze after losing 8-11, 11-8, 8-11 to Malaysia's Ainaa Amani and Md Kamal in the semi-final — repeating their podium finish from the previous year.
Are India the defending champions in men's doubles at this championship?
Yes, Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar are the defending champions in men's doubles. A win in Sunday's final against Pakistan would confirm a successful title defence at the 3rd Asian Doubles Squash Championships.
