\u201cHeartiest congratulations to India\u2019s squash team, which won the Squash World Cup for the first time. The team, comprising women and men, has done India proud with its superlative performance, defeating the top-seeded team, Hong Kong, in the final and winning the semifinal against Egypt, which had won the Cup twice in recent years. I wish Indian squash a very bright future ahead,\u201d the President penned on X.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India entered Sunday's summit clash aiming to overcome the disappointment of their last appearance, when they were eliminated in the semi-finals on the same court in 2023.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
To start the proceedings, the 39-year-old Chennai-born Joshna Chinappa defeated 32-year-old Ka Yi Lee in the first match 3-1, coming back from losing the second game to win 7-3, 2-7, 7-5, 7-1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Next, men\u2019s first-string player Abhay Singh faced Alex Lau and dominated the match with aggressive, accurate line hitting. He took his side 2-0 up with scores of 7-1, 7-4, 7-4 in just 19 minutes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This victory put the top seeds in a difficult position, as women\u2019s first-string Tomato Ho had to achieve a crucial win against 17-year-old Anahat Singh to keep Hong Kong alive in the competition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Next, men\u2019s first-string player Abhay Singh faced Alex Lau and dominated the match with aggressive, accurate line hitting. He took his side 2-0 up with scores of 7-1, 7-4, 7-4 in just 19 minutes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
That victory cemented India\u2019s status as just the sixth country to win a major World Squash team championship.<\/p>\r\n\r\n