- 48 players from 9 countries competed for PSA world-ranking points.
Ahmedabad, January 31, 2026: The Ahmedabad leg of the HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour concluded today at the Belvedere Golf and Country Club after five days of top-tier international competition. Held from 27–31 January, the tournament brought together 48 elite squash players from nine countries, delivering fast-paced, high-intensity squash as athletes battled for crucial PSA world-ranking points. The event marked Ahmedabad’s debut on the HCL Squash Indian Tour circuit, following successful legs in Chennai, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, and reinforced the city’s growing stature as a destination for professional sport. Players from Egypt, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Malta, Iran, and India showcased exceptional athleticism, tactical depth, and competitive spirit across both men’s and women’s draws.
In the women’s final, Farida Walid (Egypt) defeated Tanvi Khanna (India), with a score of 9-11, 13-15, 11-8, 12-10, 11-5. In the men’s final, Seif Refaay (Egypt) defeated Hazem Hossam (Egypt) with a score of 11-4, 11-7, 11-4. Seif Refaay was also the winner of the British Open (U-19), which took place recently.
Rajat Chandolia, AVP & Head – Brand and Strategy, HCL Group, said, “The Ahmedabad leg has been a strong addition to the HCL Squash Indian Tour. I congratulate all the winners for giving their best performance. The quality of competition and the response from players reaffirm why expanding the Tour to new cities is so important. At HCL, we remain focused on building consistent, high-performance opportunities that prepare Indian players for success on the global stage, including the road to the 2028 Olympics.”
Bhanu Pratap Singh, General Secretary, All Gujarat Rackets Association, added, “Ahmedabad hosting a PSA event reflects the steady growth of India’s domestic squash ecosystem. With sustained support from HCL, the Sports Authority of India, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the Tour continues to provide Indian athletes with the competitive depth and international exposure required for long-term success.”
Indian players continued to make a strong impression on home soil, using the tournament as a vital platform to test themselves against international opposition. With squash set to make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028, the Ahmedabad leg played a key role in India’s preparation, offering valuable match exposure and ranking opportunities.
The PSA-registered tournament offered an equal prize purse of USD 6,000 each in the men’s and women’s categories, underscoring HCL’s continued commitment to gender parity and professional excellence in sport.
Since 2016, the partnership between HCL and SRFI has delivered over 40 professional tournaments, benefitted more than 1,000 Indian players and strengthening India’s presence on the global squash circuit. The conclusion of the Ahmedabad leg further cements the HCL Squash Indian Tour as a cornerstone of India’s squash development programme, as the nation builds toward its Olympic ambitions.
Notes for the editor
About HCL
Founded in 1976 as one of India’s original IT garage start-ups, HCL Group is a pioneer of modern computing with many firsts to its credit, including the introduction of the 8-bit microprocessor-based computer in 1978, well before its global peers. Today, the HCL Group has a presence across varied sectors that include technology, healthcare and talent management solutions and comprises three companies – HCL Infosystems, HCLTech and HCL Healthcare. The enterprise generates annual revenues of over US$14.5 billion with 226,300 employees operating across 60 countries. For further information, visit www.hcl.com
About SRFI
The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) was formed to oversee the promotion and development of the sport in India. The SRFI has more than 24 state associations and affiliated units with its headquarters in Chennai. The federation is affiliated to World Squash Federation / Asian Squash Federation, Indian Olympic Association & recognized by Government of India. SRFI has been forging ahead with dynamic plans ensuring promotion, development, and performance of the sport at all levels.
