Jaipur leg of HCL India Squash Tour to be held from August 4-8 with more than 50 players from ten countries to compete for PSA ranking points
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The other stages of the HCL Challenger Tour will be held in Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Delhi. The tournament will have a prize money of nine thousand US dollars each in the men's and women's categories.
According to SRFI vice-president and former international player Surabhi Mishra, more than 50 players from 10 countries will participate in the Jaipur leg to be held from August 4 to 8. The Jaipur leg will be a PSA Challenger 9K event, with equal prize money for men and women.
The tour aims to boost India's squash talent pool ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
There will be a knockout draw of 24 players each in both men's and women's categories, in which the top 8 players will get direct entry into the second round.
Egyptian players reach Jaipur
Surabhi Mishra informed that apart from India, players from Egypt, Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Canada, China, Kuwait and South Korea will participate in this international tournament organized in collaboration with the Sports Ministry of the Government of India and the Sports Authority of India.
Egyptian players have arrived here. The visiting players practiced at the Squash Academy courts on Saturday.
Joshna and Tanvi will be the star attractions
In the women's category of the tournament, Asian Games medalists Joshna Chinnappa and Tanvi Khanna of India will also participate. Joshna is ranked 108 in the world and Tanvi is ranked 126.
Apart from this, top players like world number 94 Nour Khafagy (Egypt), world number 99 Menna Walid (Egypt), 105th ranked Akari Midorikawa (Japan), 114th ranked Goh Zi Xuan (Malaysia) will be the centre of attraction.
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Suraj will lead the Indian challenge in the men's category
Suraj Kumar Chand, ranked 153 in the world, will lead the Indian challenge in the men's category. Aryaveer Diwan, bronze medalist of the recent World Junior Championship in Egypt, has been given a wild card entry.
Other top players in the tournament include Egypt's Yassine Shohady (ranked 105), Japan's Tomon Endo (110), Sri Lanka's Ravindu Laksiri (113), Malaysia's Darren Pragasus (115) and Egypt's Mohamed Gohar (150).
The event will be of high quality
HCL Brand Head Rajat Chandolia said that we have upgraded the tour to high class events so that Indian players can compete in international matches while staying in the country and be strong in the race for PCA points.
Keeping the 2028 Olympics in mind, our aim is to create a solid talent pipeline. SRFI Secretary General Cyrus Poncha said that the partnership with HCL since 2016 has taken Indian squash to new heights. The increased prize money and expansion now give players more opportunities to compete.
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