Jul 31, 2025
Ahmedabad and Bengaluru added to the PSA Challenger circuit
Six-city tour aims to boost India’s Olympic squash prospects
New Delhi, July 31, 2025: In a boost to India’s squash ambitions, especially with the sport’s debut at the LA 2028 Olympics, leading global conglomerate HCL, in partnership with the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), today launched HCL India Squash Tour 2025-26. Now expanded to six cities, this Professional Squash Association (PSA) Challenger Tour series brings international-calibre competition to Indian soil, offering critical PSA ranking points, enhanced prize purses, and a stronger pathway for homegrown athletes to excel globally.
Following the resounding success of the inaugural edition, which saw Indian players improve their PSA rankings significantly, the revamped 2025–26 season includes Jaipur, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Delhi on its circuit, with the latter two cities newly added to the lineup.
Importantly, all tournaments will award equal prize money to men and women, with champions taking home USD 15,000, 9,000, or 6,000, depending on the event tier. Each leg will follow a 24-player knockout format, with the top 8 seeds receiving byes into the second round. The Tour is open to PSA-registered players aged 15 and above.
With support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Sports Authority of India, the Tour was focused on bringing in new players in the PSA circuit $3,000 purses.
Rajat Chandolia, Associate Vice President and Head of Brand, HCL Group, said, “This year, we have stepped up to higher-tier events so that the Indian players can gain meaningful PSA points and face tougher global competition without needing to travel abroad. With squash set to debut at the 2028 Olympics, we are focused on creating a structured pipeline that helps Indian players thrive on the world stage. Our continued partnership with SRFI is aimed at strengthening every aspect of the sport’s ecosystem in India.”
Cyrus Poncha, Secretary General of the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), said, “We are immensely grateful to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Sports Authority of India, and our partner HCL, whose support since 2016 has been instrumental in nurturing Indian squash talent. Their contributions have driven remarkable progress, from elevating global rankings to achieving historic victories. The increased prize money and expanded tournament opportunities this year will further accelerate development, enabling more players to gain exposure, earn PSA points, and prepare for prestigious international events, including the Olympics.”
The announcement comes amid an extraordinary phase for Indian squash. In July 2025, Anahat Singh, who began her PSA journey in January 2024 when her ranking was 129, and then rose from there to World No. 54 and clinched a historic bronze at the World Junior Squash Championships. Other standout performances include:
Since 2016, HCL has supported Indian squash across all levels, introducing structured training programs, coaching and referee development, and grassroots initiatives. With the launch of the HCL Squash Program in 2019, it has become a cornerstone in building a high-performance pipeline for Indian talent, championing the belief in ‘Human Potential. Multiplied’ by enabling players to rise to their fullest capabilities on and off the court.
This impact is also reflected in India’s broader medal tally, which has grown from 11 to 18 medals at the Asian and Commonwealth Games during this period. Most recently, India celebrated a hat-trick of gold medals at the 2025 Asian Doubles Squash Championships. Beyond squash, HCL’s sports initiatives span bridge, and cyclothon, reaffirming its commitment to unlocking human potential, both physical and mental – through the power of sport.
HCL Squash India Tour 2025-26 Schedule
Jaipur – August 4-8 (Sawai Man Singh Stadium)
About HCL Group
Founded in 1976 as one of India’s original IT garage start-ups, HCL Group 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 Group 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$14 billion with 223,000 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, the Indian Olympic Association & recognised 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.