Asian Doubles Squash 2025: Abhay-Velavan open title defence with win in Sarawak
Synopsis
India's reigning champions arrived in Sarawak with a point to prove — and delivered on Day 1. Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar won their Pool A opener, Joshna Chinappa featured in two winning pairs, and the women's doubles second seeds swept all three matches. With defending champion Anahat Singh absent, India's depth is being tested — and so far it is holding.
Key Takeaways
Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar defeated South Korea's Oh Seojin and Min-Woo Lee 11-7, 11-10 in Pool A on 18 June .
Rahul Baitha and Suraj Chand beat Singapore but lost to Japan in Pool B men's doubles.
Mixed doubles second seeds Velavan and Joshna Chinappa won 11-2, 11-3 ; they are targeting gold after last year's bronze.
Women's doubles second seeds Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan won all three Pool B matches on Day 1.
Seventh seeds Janet Vidhi and Pooja Arthi also won two of their three matches, showing depth in the Indian squad.
Teenage star Anahat Singh is absent, preparing for the World Junior Championships in Canada next month.
Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar, India's top-seeded men's doubles pair, launched their title defence at the 3rd Asian Doubles Squash Championships in Sarawak, Malaysia, on Thursday, 18 June, defeating South Korea's Oh Seojin and Min-Woo Lee 11-7, 11-10 in Pool A. The reigning champions combined finesse with disciplined court control to secure the win in a quick but intense contest.
Men's Doubles: Top Seeds Advance Smoothly
The Indian pair's 11-7, 11-10 victory over the South Korean duo was measured and efficient. As the top seed in Pool A, Abhay and Velavan will be expected to progress deep into the knockout stage as they look to retain the crown they won last year.
Compatriots Rahul Baitha and Suraj Chand had a mixed opening day in Pool B. They cruised past Singapore's Samuel Quek Wei Yi and Justin Yap 11-3, 11-3, but then fell to Japan's Naoki Hayashi and Ren Makino 8-11, 11-8, 6-11 in a tightly contested three-game affair.
Mixed Doubles: Velavan and Joshna Eye Gold After Bronze
Second seeds Velavan Senthilkumar and Joshna Chinappa made a commanding start in the mixed doubles draw, dismissing Chinese Taipei's Cordelia Hsu and Pan Hong Rui 11-2, 11-3 in Pool B. The pair, who claimed bronze at last year's edition, are openly targeting a step up to the podium's top spot this time around.
Women's Doubles: Joshna and Rathika Dominate Pool B
Second seeds Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan were the standout performers of the day, winning all three of their Pool B matches without dropping a game. They beat Singapore's Jayna Lim and Jacintha Han 11-5, 11-5, Japan's Sugimoto Risa and Erisa Sano 11-9, 11-8, and fellow Indians Janet Vidhi and Pooja Arthi 11-5, 11-8 to finish Day 1 with a perfect record.
Seventh seeds Janet Vidhi and Pooja Arthi also showed resilience in their remaining fixtures. They came from behind to defeat the higher-seeded Japanese pair of Sugimoto and Erisa 8-11, 11-4, 11-5 — with Janet displaying remarkable court coverage and Pooja executing decisive finishes — before overcoming Singapore's Wai Lynn Au Yeong and Naisha Singh 9-11, 11-6, 11-8.
India's Title Pedigree and Key Absentee
India swept all three categories at last year's championships. Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh claimed the mixed doubles title, while Anahat and Joshna Chinappa won the women's doubles crown. Notably, teenage sensation Anahat Singh is absent from the Sarawak event this week, as she is preparing for the World Junior Championships in Canada next month.
Abhay arrives in Malaysia on the back of a narrow defeat at the British Open, where he lost to Egyptian world No. 8 Mohamad Zakaria 9-11, 4-11, 11-7, 10-12 in a close four-game contest. With pool stages still unfolding, India's full medal tally will take shape over the coming days.
Point of View
But this edition tests whether that dominance was built on a system or on Anahat Singh's individual brilliance. With Anahat absent, the burden falls on Joshna Chinappa to anchor two draws simultaneously — a demanding ask at the top level. The mixed doubles pairing of Velavan and Joshna is the most intriguing storyline: a bronze-to-gold push that would validate India's depth rather than just its stars. If Abhay and Velavan retain the men's title and Joshna delivers in both women's and mixed, it will be the clearest signal yet that Indian squash doubles is a programme, not a personality.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are India's top seeds at the 3rd Asian Doubles Squash Championships?
Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar are India's top-seeded men's doubles pair at the 3rd Asian Doubles Squash Championships in Sarawak, Malaysia. They are the defending champions, having won the title at the previous edition.
How did India's pairs perform on Day 1 in Sarawak?
India had a strong opening day overall. Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar won their men's doubles Pool A match 11-7, 11-10. In women's doubles, Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan swept all three Pool B matches. In mixed doubles, Velavan and Joshna beat Chinese Taipei 11-2, 11-3.
Why is Anahat Singh not playing at the Asian Doubles Squash Championships 2025?
Anahat Singh is absent from the Sarawak tournament as she is preparing for the World Junior Championships in Canada next month. She was part of India's title-winning teams at last year's edition in both mixed and women's doubles.
What is Joshna Chinappa's record at this year's championships so far?
Joshna Chinappa is competing in both women's doubles and mixed doubles. She won all three women's doubles Pool B matches alongside Rathika Seelan, and also won her mixed doubles opener with Velavan Senthilkumar 11-2, 11-3 against Chinese Taipei.
What was India's result at the previous Asian Doubles Squash Championships?
India won all three categories at the previous edition. Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh claimed the mixed doubles title, while Anahat and Joshna Chinappa won the women's doubles. The men's doubles title was also won by India.
