It’s not just cricket that flourishes in Mumbai — Squash takes the spotlight with JSW India Open

By K.R. Nayar
From Mumbai

Mumbai is a city that welcomes all sports. While cricket holds prominence, other sports are also played with equal enthusiasm, and top events are staged here with great verve. The beauty of Mumbai lies in its deep-rooted sports culture, which has been nurtured over the years, ensuring that every sport finds its followers.

JSW Indian Open 2025 press meet at the Bombay Gymkhana 

During my days in Mumbai, I had the opportunity to report on almost all sports. On this short visit to the city, I was invited to the JSW India Open 2025 press meet at the historic Bombay Gymkhana. This international squash event is being held from March 24 to 28.

 

Bombay Gymkhana, which is celebrating its 150th year,  is the venue for the event 

Years ago, I used to report on squash matches at the Cricket Club of India. Encouraging all sports at historic venues has been a tradition here, and Bombay Gymkhana has followed suit. 

Celebrating its 150th year, Bombay Gymkhana had hosted India’s first-ever Test cricket match between India and England in 1933. Sanjiv Saran Mehra, President of Bombay Gymkhana said: “We have a rich tradition of backing all sports. This will be another chapter in Bombay Gymkhana history as we celebrate our 150th year.”

 

JSW India Open all set to create an impact 

The willingness of sponsors to support various events has always been a hallmark of Mumbai. The JSW India Open 2025 is India’s first-ever PSA Squash Copper tournament, boasting a prize purse of USD 53,500.

Due to various reasons, major squash tournaments in the country were affected in the past. However, the JSW India Open will mark the return of a major squash tournament to India after a seven-year hiatus. The significance of this event is underscored by the fact that squash is set to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games. With many talented squash players in India, this tournament provides them with a platform to showcase their skills.

 

Celebrating India’s squash talent

 

It’s always a delight to meet athletes who excel in sports that may not have the glamour of cricket but have earned them recognition as top international stars. Two such players participating in the JSW India Open are India No. 1 Ramit Tandon and 17-year-old rising sensation, Anahat Singh, India’s No. 3 in the women’s category.

 

Ramit Tandon

Tandon, who has won a bronze medal at the Asian Games and gold and silver medals at the Asian Team Championships, has climbed to 28 in the world rankings and is currently Asia’s No. 3 ranked player. Speaking at the press conference, he said: “It's always good to play at home. I think we don't get enough opportunities to do that in India. So I'm very thankful to JSW and everyone involved for making this possible. Especially with the Olympics coming up, our PSA rankings are going to be crucial, and home-court advantage is something Indian players rarely get at the top level. Since this is the biggest squash event ever hosted in India, it’s important for attracting more people to the sport. I think it's a beautiful thing to have more sports events like this in the country, and I’m excited.”

 

Anahat Singh

Anahat Singh is a rising star whom we are sure to hear a lot about in the coming days. She holds the distinction of being the youngest national champion and the youngest Indian to win a medal at the Asian Games. In 2024, she set a record by winning four titles in a single year. Her remarks at the press conference reflected her enthusiasm to continue winning laurels: “This will be one of the biggest tournaments for me so far, and getting to play in India alongside so many international players is going to be wonderful. For me, it's really important for my ranking, and playing at home instead of traveling abroad constantly is a great advantage.”

 

International participation and wild card entries

 

Players from France, Spain, the Netherlands, Egypt, Canada, England, the USA, Malaysia, and Japan will be participating in this event. India’s Suraj Kumar Chand and Anjali Semwal have been awarded Wild Card entries. Both the men’s and women’s draws will feature a total of 24 players each.  Indian players Velavan Senthilkumar, Veer Chotrani and Akanksha Salunkhe will be in action.

Supporting squash and expanding sports ecosystems

 

Divyanshu Singh, COO of JSW Sports, addressed the gathering and acknowledged cricket’s dominance in India but emphasized their commitment to promoting other sports. “We are striving to develop an ecosystem for the business of sport in India. While cricket dominates, our endeavor is to change that and promote other Indian sports. Indian squash already has six players in the top 100, which is a phenomenal achievement. There is great optimism that by the time we reach LA2028, these athletes will shine for India, and we are here to get them into the spotlight.”

 

Cut outs of  players at the press meet room 

Manisha Malhotra, President of the Inspire Institute of Sports, along with Divyanshu Singh, reiterated their dedication to boosting squash in India: “We are delighted to bring squash back to India at the highest level. Sports like squash need the revival of circuits at the state and national levels. Through events like these, we aim to promote and support our players and help them gain experience playing at bigger events. From an Indian perspective, this is definitely a sport where we can dominate, and this tournament will be a great opportunity for us.”