Did the Team Make India Proud? President Murmu Applauds the Squash World Cup Champions
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India won the inaugural Squash World Cup.
- President Droupadi Murmu praised the team's performance.
- Joshna Chinappa and Abhay Singh were standout players.
- The victory signifies India's rise in international squash.
- India is now among the six nations to win a major World Squash team championship.
New Delhi, Dec 15 (NationPress) President Droupadi Murmu extended heartfelt congratulations to the Indian squash team for their historic achievement in clinching the inaugural Squash World Cup, asserting that they have done India proud. The host nation celebrated as they emerged victorious against the top-seeded Hong Kong-China at Express Avenue Mall in Chennai on Sunday.
“My warmest congratulations to the Indian squash team for securing the Squash World Cup for the very first time. The team, composed of both men and women, has done India proud with their outstanding performance, triumphing over the top-seeded Hong Kong in the finals and defeating Egypt, a two-time champion, in the semifinals. I wish a bright future for Indian squash,” President Murmu expressed on X.
India approached the championship match on Sunday with the intention of overcoming the disappointment of their previous semi-final exit on the same court in 2023.
The competition commenced with Chennai's own 39-year-old Joshna Chinappa, who secured a victory against 32-year-old Ka Yi Lee with a score of 3-1, bouncing back after losing the second game to win 7-3, 2-7, 7-5, 7-1.
Following this, the men's top player Abhay Singh faced Alex Lau, dominating the match with aggressive and precise shots, leading his team to a 2-0 advantage with scores of 7-1, 7-4, 7-4 in just 19 minutes.
This triumph placed the top seeds in a precarious position, as women’s top player Tomato Ho needed a crucial win against 17-year-old Anahat Singh to keep Hong Kong in contention.
To the crowd's excitement, Anahat performed brilliantly. The young talent from Delhi, who gained fame during the 2022 Commonwealth Games at just 14, showcased remarkable poise, overpowering Ho with a decisive victory of 7-2, 7-2, 7-5.
This win established India as the sixth nation to secure a significant World Squash team championship.