Indian Sports Wrap: Suraj Chand Reaches Squash Quarters

Suraj Chand advanced to the men’s quarterfinals of the Singapore Classic squash on Thursday after securing a straight-games victory over Benjamin Ratcliffe in the second round of the PSA Challenger event. World No 111 Chand defeated his Australian opponent 11-6, 11-4, 11-4, and will next face Malaysian world No 60 Sanjay Jeeva. Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, third seed Tanvi Khanna, Sanya Vats, and Rathika Seelan exited the tournament in the second round.

In other domestic developments, over 350 players from 24 states are set to compete in the 82nd National Squash Championship at the Otters Club from November 16 to 22. Organised by HCL Sports in collaboration with the Squash Rackets Federation of India, the tournament features men’s, women’s, and Pro Coach categories with a total prize purse of Rs 9.6 lakh. Asian Games individual silver medallist Abhay Singh is the top seed in the men’s singles field, while Rathika Seelan leads the women’s singles draw. Nikhil Soni, Head of Brand and Marketing at HCL Group, noted that the strong turnout reflects the depth of talent and growing reach of the sport in the country.

On the international martial arts stage, karate player Mohit Yadav won two bronze medals within a single week. Yadav secured a bronze in the Elite Team Kumite event at the Commonwealth Karate Championship 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland, and earlier won a bronze medal in the +84 kg Senior category at the Central England Open International Karate Championships.

DDCA Members Request Fresh Elections

In cricket administration, twenty-seven members of the Delhi & Districts Cricket Association, led by Naveen Jindal and Raman Saluja, wrote to BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia requesting fresh elections. Incumbent president Rohan Jaitley and treasurer Harish Singla completed six continuous years in office on November 9, triggering a mandatory three-year cooling-off period under the BCCI constitution, which follows the Lodha Committee guidelines.

Suraj Chand reached the Singapore Classic squash quarterfinals with a dominant straight-games win.

Why it matters

These developments shape the competitive landscape for Indian athletes across squash, karate, and cricket administration. Success on the international circuit for players like Suraj Chand and Mohit Yadav highlights the rising competitiveness of Indian competitors, while upcoming domestic tournaments like the National Squash Championship provide vital platforms for emerging talent across states. At the same time, administrative transitions in regional bodies like the DDCA ensure governance compliance with established sporting guidelines.