'Very rare for a kid to tell parents, 'I want to be an athlete'': What India needs for a squash boom
Indian squash is enjoying a surge of attention, fuelled by Anahat Singh’s historic World Junior title and a growing pool of top-ranked professionals. But India's star squash player Veer Chotrani believes sustained success requires more than courts and funding. India needs stronger coaching, training partners and a professional ecosystem at home, while families must increasingly view sport as a…
Veer Chotrani, a 24-year-old squash player, never had a childhood without the sport. His father, Manish Chotrani, was a national champion and coached Veer since he was four years old. Veer became a decorated junior player, winning multiple Asian Junior titles and ranking as India's junior No. 1. The recent success of Anahat Singh, who won the World Junior Squash Championship, has reignited interest in the sport.
This success coincides with squash being included in the 2028 Olympics, which will bring more attention to the sport in India. However, despite the progress, there are still challenges in developing a thriving squash culture in India. Many Indian families prefer academic pursuits over sports, and the top players train abroad, making it difficult for the next generation to stay and compete at the same level.
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