May 31, 2024
Chennai, 31 May, 2024: To enhance the squash ecosystem in India, HCL, a leading global conglomerate, along with the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), is set to launch the second leg of the HCL Squash Tour and Southern Slam in Chennai. The city will host both tournaments at the Indian Squash Academy from June 4 to June 8, 2024.
The HCL Squash Tour is a multi-city PSA Challenger Tour, certified by the Professional Squash Association (PSA), which helps improve the world rankings of the players. Alongside the PSA tour, the Southern Slam is being organized. This event is a 5-star certified tournament by the SRFI and an ASF-accredited Gold event that enhances the Asian rankings of junior players.
Rajat Chandolia, AVP and Head of Brand at HCL, said “The HCL Squash Tour and the slams are integral components of our revamped Squash Podium Program, designed to cultivate the potential of Indian players by offering them ample opportunities and robust infrastructure. This initiative resonates with our brand’s philosophy of ‘Human Potential Multiplied,’ which seeks to elevate the capabilities of individuals and communities while fostering a more dynamic sports ecosystem nationwide. Such tournaments are instrumental in ensuring that Indian players excel on the global stage.”
Cyrus Poncha, Secretary General, the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) said, “The Southern Slam & PSA Tournament in Chennai is a fantastic opportunity for our young players to showcase their skills and compete against top international talent. This event is a crucial step in our mission to elevate Indian squash to new heights and foster a culture of excellence. We are committed to providing the best platforms for our athletes to grow and succeed. I am eager to witness the high level of competition and sportsmanship over the next few days and wish all the players the very best.”
These tournaments are being organized as part of the HCL Squash Podium Program, which provides Indian players the opportunity to compete with some of the best squash talent on home turf. The PSA tournament will feature over 47 players from five countries, including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, and India, competing for a $3,000 prize in both the men’s and women’s categories. In the Southern Slam, more than 250 junior players will compete in the U-11, U-13, U-15, U-17, and U-19 categories. This is the first of four zonal tournaments to be held alongside PSA tournaments in the coming year, providing junior players the opportunity to experience an international-level competition and learn from senior players. Furthermore, participating and performing in the slam helps junior players improve their Asian rankings.
Recently, HCL hosted the inaugural PSA of the HCL Squash Tour in Indore, alongside the Indian Junior Open, at Daly College. The event featured over 48 players, and 7 out of the top 8 seeded players, both men and women, improved their rankings as a result of the competition.
In Chennai, the top-seeded squash talents will participate, including Anahat Singh (U19 & World Rank 114), Ravindu Laksiri (142 Rank), Rathika Suthanthira (170), Rahul Baitha (206 Rank), Vedant Patel (316), and Om Semwal (279 Rank), in the two tournaments. Also, Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu is participating in this PSA and Anahat Singh will take part in both PSA and Southern Slam.
Notes for the Editor
About HCL
Founded in 1976 as one of India’s original IT garage start-ups, HCL is a pioneer of modern computing with many firsts to its credit, including the introduction of the 8-bit microprocessor-based computer in 1978 well before its global peers. Today, the HCL enterprise has a presence across varied sectors that include technology, healthcare and talent management solutions and comprises three companies – HCL Infosystems, HCLTech and HCL Healthcare. The enterprise generates annual revenues of over US$ 13.3 billion with 227,481 employees operating across 60 countries. For further information, visit www.hcl.com
About SRFI
The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) was formed to oversee the promotion and development of the sport in India. The SRFI has more than 24 state associations and affiliated units with its headquarters in Chennai. The federation is affiliated to the World Squash Federation / Asian Squash Federation, Indian Olympic Association & recognized by the Government of India. SRFI has been forging ahead with dynamic plans ensuring the promotion, development, and performance of the sport at all levels.
For further information, please contact:
On behalf of HCL:
Pooja Arora: pooja_sikka@hcl.com (98117 08711)
Alisha Bisherwal: Alisha.a@hcl.com (8447821231)