Joshna Chinappa opened her campaign at the HCL Squash Indian Tour 4 with the assuredness of a seasoned professional, easing past compatriot Anika Dubey 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 in Chennai on Monday.
Playing at the Indian Squash Academy her long-time training base the 39-year-old former World No. 10 controlled the tempo from the outset, using her accuracy and court craft to stay well ahead through all three games.
For Joshna, this event holds added significance. She is part of the four-member Indian squad preparing for the upcoming SDAT World Cup, and this tournament doubles up as a competitive tune-up before she joins the national camp. Monday’s outing was therefore less about the scoreline and more about regaining match sharpness, managing physical load, and settling into the competitive rhythm after what has been a carefully paced season. Against Anika, she showed she is still capable of dictating points with early volleys, sustained pressure, and a clean short game.
Her next challenge will be sterner. Joshna faces Ella Jane Lash, the seventh seed from New Zealand, in the second round. Lash has built a reputation for her athleticism and her ability to extend rallies, and the matchup will test Joshna’s movement and endurance in a way the first round did not. But with experience on her side and familiarity with the conditions in Chennai Joshna begins as the favourite.
While Joshna was the day’s headline act, the opening rounds across both draws produced a mix of straightforward wins and hard-fought battles.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
The men’s section saw several seeded international players advance comfortably. Suraj Kumar Chand set the tone early with a dominant 11-4, 11-8, 11-4 win over Sandhesh Palanivel Ravikumar, showing control on both the volley and the backcourt. Egypt’s Adam Hawal overcame Ayaan Vaziralli 11-8, 11-9, 11-5, while home hope Diwakar Singh had to dig deep in a four-game contest before defeating Australian Remi Young 13-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5.
There was disappointment for India in the all-international matchups, with Switzerland’s Louai Hafez beating Shiven Agarwal 11-4, 11-3, 11-5, and France’s Manuel Paquemar defeating Rahul Baitha in straight games. In the day’s most dramatic men’s encounter, Frenchman Matteo Carrouget edged Sri Lanka’s Shamil Wakeel 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-8 in a gripping five-game duel.
Among the Indian winners, Yash Fadte was impressive in his 11-6, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9 victory over Hong Kong’s Wailok To. Sri Lanka’s experienced Ravindu Laksiri also advanced after beating Om Semwal 11-6, 11-8, 11-8.
Top seed Velavan Senthilkumar, India’s reigning national champion, begins his campaign on Tuesday after receiving a first-round bye. His entry is among the most anticipated, given his strong domestic form.
Women’s Draw: Mix of Experience and Emerging Names
In the women’s section, India’s Sanya Vats produced one of the day’s most disciplined performances, recovering from a slow start to beat Germany’s Katerina Tycova 5-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5. Iran’s Fereshteh Eghtedari overcame Anjali Semwal 11-7, 11-5, 10-12, 11-2 in a match filled with momentum swings.
Tamil Nadu’s Rathika Suthanthira Seelan impressed with her 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8 win over Japan’s Risa Sugimoto, showing excellent defensive retrieval under pressure. Italy’s Cristina Tartarone and Poland’s Karina Tyma advanced with straight-games wins, while Czech player Tamara Holzbauerova defeated Janet Vidhi 11-4, 11-4, 11-1. India had more to cheer as Nirupama Dubey edged a tight four-game battle against Malta’s Colette Sultana, winning 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8.
Reigning national champion Anahat Singh, the top seed, begins her campaign on Tuesday. The 16-year-old remains one of the most followed young players in the draw, particularly given her improved physicality and tactical maturity this season.
A Promising Start to a Busy Week
With Joshna starting strong and several Indian players advancing, the opening day at the Indian Tour 4 has set up a competitive week ahead. The combination of seasoned names and rising domestic talent, mixed with a diverse international field, promises competitive depth across both draws.
For Joshna Chinappa, though, the focus remains singular: find rhythm, build momentum, and prepare for the World Cup. Monday was a good beginning. The tests grow tougher from here.
