Celebrating squash success The eighth edition of the Tech Word News Sports Awards (TOISA) will be held on March 21, 2026 in Lucknow and will recognize the achievements and inspirational journeys of India’s best athletes across various sports. TOISA 2025 will recognize performances from 1 January to 31 December 2025 and highlight exceptional moments from major international tournaments and world championships. With more than 45 award categories, the event will celebrate both legendary artists and promising new talents who have brought pride to the nation.The award winners will be selected by a distinguished panel of sporting icons including Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Devendra Jhajharia, Sharath Kamal and Leander Paes, ensuring a credible and expert assessment of excellence in Indian sports.Squash – Men’sAbhay SinghDate of birth: September 3, 1998Place of Birth: Chennai, Tamil NaduSports: SquashMajor achievements in 2025:SDAT World Squash Cup: Gold (Mixed Team)Asian Squash Championship Doubles: Gold (Men’s Doubles)Asian Squash Doubles Championship: Gold (Mixed Doubles)PSA Hyder Trophy (New York): GoldIndia’s top men’s player Abhay Singh enjoyed a stellar 2025, cementing his dominance in both the individual and team formats. He led India to a historic first gold at the SDAT World Squash Championship in his hometown Chennai. On the continental stage, he secured double gold at the Asian Doubles Championship when he successfully defended the men’s doubles title with Velavan Senthilkumar and claimed the mixed crown alongside Anahat Singh. In addition, he won his 11th PSA Tour title at the Hyder Trophy in New York and achieved a career-high world ranking of 26th during the year.Saurav GhosalDate of birth: August 10, 1986Place of Birth: Kolkata, West BengalSports: SquashMajor achievements in 2025:Octane Sydney Classic (PSA): GoldAfter a brief hiatus from the professional circuit, the legendary Saurav Ghosal made a triumphant “comeback” in early 2025 by winning the Sydney Classic in Australia, dropping only one game during the tournament to secure his 11th PSA title. Despite battling age and recurring injuries, Ghosal continued to be a leading force in Indian squash. His resilience throughout 2025 has further cemented his legacy as the best squash player India has ever produced.velavan senthilkumarDate of birth: March 26, 1998Place of Birth: Salem, Tamil NaduSports: SquashMajor achievements in 2025:Senior National Squash Championships: Gold (Men’s Singles)Asian Squash Championship Doubles: Gold (Men’s Doubles)Asian Singles Squash Championship: BronzeSDAT World Squash Cup: Gold (Mixed Team)Velavan Senthilkumar scaled new heights in 2025, breaking into the world top 40 for the first time. He won the Senior National title in a high-intensity final and was an important part of the team that won the gold medal at the World Cup in Chennai. His partnership with Abhay Singh remained unbeatable in Asia as they successfully defended their Asian doubles crown. With a bronze at the Asian Singles Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Velavan proved that he is now a consistent medal threat at the highest levels of international squash.Mahesh MangaonkarDate of birth: March 23, 1994Place of Birth: Mumbai, MaharashtraSports: SquashMajor achievements in 2025:PSA World Championship: Round of 32Finnish National Championships: Gold (as resident competitor)PSA Tour: Two-time Finalist (Challenger Level)While balancing his professional career with coaching roles in Europe, Mahesh Mangaonkar remained India’s key international representative in 2025. He showed his experience at the PSA World Championship and battled hard against seeded opponents. On the regional circuit, he continued to dominate in Scandinavia, securing national titles as a resident while reaching several finals on the PSA Challenger Tour.Squash – FemaleAnahat SinghDate of birth: March 13, 2008Place of Birth: DelhiSports: SquashMajor achievements in 2025:SDAT World Squash Cup: Gold (Mixed Team)Senior National Squash Championships: Gold (Women’s Singles)Asian Squash Championship Doubles: Gold (Women’s and Mixed Doubles)World Junior Squash Championships: BronzePSA Awards 2025: Challenger Player of the Season & Young Player of the SeasonAt just 17, Anahat Singh cemented her status as the face of Indian squash in 2025. She achieved a historic hat-trick of senior national titles and anchored India to its first gold at the World Squash Cup in Chennai. Internationally, she ended India’s 15-year drought at the World Junior Championships by winning bronze and secured her first Top 10 win by upsetting world No. 7 Tinne Gilis at the Canadian Open. Her dominance on the PSA Challenger Tour, where she maintained a 29-match unbeaten streak, earned her two prestigious worldwide season awards from PSA.Joshna ChinappaDate of birth: September 15, 1986Place of Birth: Chennai, Tamil NaduSports: SquashMajor achievements in 2025:SDAT World Squash Cup: Gold (Mixed Team)Japan Open (PSA Challenger): GoldAsian Squash Championship Doubles: Gold (Women’s Doubles)SRFI Indian Open: Silver (Singles)Proving that age is just a number, 39-year-old veteran Joshna Chinappa enjoyed a remarkable revival in 2025. In the World Cup final against Hong Kong, she delivered a critical victory in the opening match to help India win the gold. In October, she captured her 11th PSA title at the Japan Open in Yokohama, defeating younger and higher-ranked opponents to break back into the world No. 100. Despite finishing runner-up to Anahat Singh at the Indian Open, her tactical brilliance and veteran leadership remained indispensable to the national team’s success.Tanvi KhannaDate of birth: 23 July 1995Place of Birth: DelhiSports: SquashMajor achievements in 2025:HCL Squash Indian Tour (Mumbai): GoldHCL Squash Indian Tour (Jaipur): SilverAsian Singles Squash Championship: Quarter FinalistTanvi Khanna successfully returned to form in 2025 after a period of recovery from injury. She won her first title of the season at the HCL PSA Challenger in Mumbai, stunning the top Egyptian seed in the final. Her consistency on the domestic and Asian circuits saw her reach the finals in Jaipur and the latter stages of the Asian Singles Championships in Malaysia. Throughout the year, Tanvi remained India’s top 3 player and provided vital depth to the women’s national team in international team competitions.Dipika Pallikal KarthikDate of birth: September 21, 1991Place of Birth: Chennai, Tamil NaduSports: SquashMajor achievements in 2025:Asian Squash Doubles Championship: Silver (Mixed Doubles)World Squash Championships: Main Draw (Chicago)PSA Tour: Made semifinals at Australian OpenIn 2025, Dipika Pallikal Karthik focused her competitive energies on high stakes doubles and select PSA World Tour events. Alongside Saurav Ghosal, she secured a silver medal at the Asian Doubles Championship and represented India at the PSA World Championships in Chicago. While balancing her professional career with her role as a prominent sporting icon, she continued to compete at the highest level of the world circuit, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and serving as a vital mentor to younger players at the national camp.
