TOISA 2025 Nominees: Celebrating squash success

The 8th edition of The Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) will be held in Lucknow on March 21, 2026 and will celebrate the achievements and inspiring journeys of India’s best athletes across multiple sports. TOISA 2025 will recognize performance from January 1 to December 31, 2025, focusing on highlights from major international championships and global championships. Featuring more than 45 award categories, the event honors legendary performers and promising new talent who have brought pride to the country.The winners will be selected by a panel of eminent sports icons including Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Devendra Jhajharia, Sharath Kamaland Leander Paes, ensuring credible and professional assessment of excellence in Indian sports.Squash – MenAbhay SinghDate of birth: September 3, 1998Place of birth: Chennai, Tamil NaduSports: SquashMain achievements in 2025:SDAT Squash World Cup: Gold (Mixed Team)Asian Squash Doubles Championship: Gold Medal (Men’s Doubles)Asian Squash Doubles Championship: Gold Medal (Mixed Doubles)PSA Hyder Trophy (New York): Gold MedalIndia’s number one male player, Abhay Singh, has had a stellar 2025, cementing his dominance in individual and team competitions. He led India to a historic first gold medal at the SDAT Squash World Cup in his hometown of Chennai. On the mainland stage, he won double gold medals at the Asian Doubles Championships, successfully defended the men’s doubles title with Veeravan Senthilkumar and captured the mixed title with Anahat Singh. In addition, he also won his 11th PSA Tour title at the Hyde Cup in New York, and his world ranking reached a career high. 26 during the year.Sourav GhosalDate of birth: August 10, 1986Place of birth: Kolkata, West BengalSports: SquashMain achievements in 2025:Octane Sydney Classic (PSA): Gold MedalAfter a brief hiatus from the professional tour, the legendary Saurav Ghosal made a triumphant comeback in early 2025, winning the Sydney Classic in Australia, dropping just one event throughout the tournament to capture his 11th PSA title. Despite battling age and recurring injuries, Ghosal remains a guiding force in Indian squash. His resilience in 2025 further cements his status as India’s greatest ever squash player.Velawan SenhilkumarDate of birth: March 26, 1998Place of birth: Salem, Tamil NaduSports: SquashMain achievements in 2025:National Senior Squash Championship: Gold Medal (Men’s Singles)Asian Squash Doubles Championship: Gold Medal (Men’s Doubles)Asian Squash Individual Championship: Bronze MedalSDAT Squash World Cup: Gold (Mixed Team)Velavan Senthilkumar reached new heights in 2025, breaking into the world’s top 40 for the first time. He reclaimed the senior national title in a high-octane final and was an integral part of the World Cup gold-medal winning team in Chennai. His partnership with Abhay Singh remains unrivaled in Asia and they successfully defended the Asian Tag Team Championship. Veerawan proved he is now a consistent medal threat at the highest level of international squash by winning a bronze medal at the Asian Individual Championships in Kuala Lumpur.Mahesh MangankarDate of birth: March 23, 1994Place of birth: Mumbai, MaharashtraSports: SquashMain achievements in 2025:PSA World Championship: Round of 32Finnish National Championships: Gold Medal (as a resident player)PSA Tour: Two-time Finalist (Challenger Level)While balancing his career with his European coaching role, Mahesh Mangaonkar remains a key international representative for India in 2025. He showed his experience at the PSA World Championships, putting up a tough fight against his top-seeded opponent. On the regional circuit, he continued to dominate the Scandinavia region, winning the national title as a resident, while reaching multiple finals on the PSA Challenger Tour.Squash – WomenAnahat SinghDate of birth: March 13, 2008Place of birth: DelhiSports: SquashMain achievements in 2025:SDAT Squash World Cup: Gold (Mixed Team)National Senior Squash Championship: Gold Medal (Women’s Singles)Asian Squash Doubles Championship: Gold Medal (Women’s and Mixed Doubles)World Junior Squash Championships: Bronze Medal2025 PSA Awards: Challenger Player of the Season and Young Player of the SeasonIn 2025, at just 17 years old, Anahat Singh cemented her status as the face of Indian squash. She completed a historic hat-trick to win the senior national title and helped India win its first Squash World Cup gold medal in Chennai. Internationally, she won a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships, ending a 15-year drought for India, and achieved her first top-10 victory at the Canadian Open, defeating world number seven Tiny Gillis. Her 29-match unbeaten run on the PSA Challenger Tour earned her two prestigious Global Season Awards from PSA.Joshna ChinapaDate of birth: September 15, 1986Place of birth: Chennai, Tamil NaduSports: SquashMain achievements in 2025:SDAT Squash World Cup: Gold (Mixed Team)Japan Open (PSA Challenger): Gold MedalAsian Squash Doubles Championship: Gold Medal (Women’s Doubles)SRFI India Open: Silver Medal (Singles)39-year-old veteran Joshna Chinappa had a stunning resurgence in 2025, proving that age is just a number. She scored a crucial victory in the first match of the World Cup final against Hong Kong, helping India win the gold medal. In October, she defeated younger and higher-ranked opponents at the Japan Open in Yokohama to win her 11th PSA title and return to the top 100 in the world. Despite finishing runner-up to Anahat Singh at the India Open, her tactical brilliance and veteran leadership remain integral to the national team’s success.Tanvi KhannaDate of birth: July 23, 1995Place of birth: DelhiSports: SquashMain achievements in 2025:HCL Squash India Tour (Mumbai): Gold MedalHCL Squash India Tour (Jaipur): Silver MedalAsian Squash Individual Championship: QuarterfinalsTanvi Khanna successfully returned to form in 2025 after recovering from injury. She won her first title of the season at the HCL PSA Challenge in Mumbai, stunning top seeds Egypt in the final. Her consistent performances at domestic and Asian circuits have taken her to the finals in Jaipur and the final stages of the Asian Individual Championships in Malaysia. Tanvi remained India’s top three player throughout the year, providing vital depth to the women’s national team in international team competitions.Deepika Parrikar KarthikDate of birth: September 21, 1991Place of birth: Chennai, Tamil NaduSports: SquashMain achievements in 2025:Asian Squash Doubles Championship: Silver Medal (Mixed Doubles)World Squash Championship: Main Draw (Chicago)PSA Tour: Reaching Australian Open semi-finalsIn 2025, Dipika Pallikal Karthik is focusing her competitive efforts on high-stakes doubles and select PSA World Tour events. She won a silver medal at the Asian Doubles Championship with Saurav Ghosal and represented India at the PSA World Championships in Chicago. While balancing her career with her role as an illustrious sporting icon, she went on to compete on the highest level of global tours, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and becoming an important mentor to the national team’s younger players.