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MUMBAI, 15 July 2026: Suraj Chand, ranked as India's No. 5 squash player, has been honored the position to play for the Indian team at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan. Suraj, who is currently positioned at World No. 126 in Professional Squash Association (PSA) rankings, will participate in the Mixed Doubles Squash after successfully defending his spot in the national selection trials conducted in Chennai.
As a student of Somaiya Vidyavihar University in the Dr. Shantilal K. Somaiya School of Commerce and Business Studies, Suraj has been climbing the ladders of being one of the top squash players in India. He recently played for India in the Malaysian Asian Mixed Doubles Squash Championship with Rahul Bhatia, and reached the quarter-finals in a great display of sportsmanship and skill. This championship also built on his defense and strength of qualification for the Asian Games.
In the current year, he won the title at the HCL PSA Indian Tour in Chennai and became the first Indian squash player to win a bronze medal at the 2024 FISU World University Squash Championship. He has also attended a multitude of squash tournaments who have international participation.
Expressing happiness over the selection, Suraj Chand said:
“It is a personal honor and a career milestone to have the opportunity to represent India in the Asian Games. This has been made possible by years of training, competing and working hard. I would like to thank my coaches, Somaiya Sports Academy, and all those who have supported me in this journey. I am looking forward to the opportunity to compete and work hard for India in the Asian Games.”
Developing High-Performance Athletes
Suraj has been training at Somaiya Sports Academy for the last four years. During this time, he has had access to professional coaching, as well as systems for training, conditioning, and performance analysis, along with organized competitions.
His selection also shows the strength of the University squash programme. Three student-athletes of Somaiya Sports Academy were invited to the national selection trials:
- Suraj Chand – India No. 5, PSA World No. 126
- Om Semwal – India No. 6, PSA World No. 180
- Nirupama Dubey – India No. 4, PSA World No. 152
All three are multiple gold medalists of the All India Inter-University Championships, and demonstrate the high performance of the sports programme at the academy.
Azaaz Khan, Director, Somaiya Sports Academy, said this about Suraj's success:
"These types of selections are a result from years of hard work and dedicated training. We want to be able to provide a place that allows gifted athletes to have access to coaches, good facilities, and the opportunity to perform to the best of their ability to compete at the highest level. We believe that Suraj is completely deserving of this honor, and it shows the culture at Somaiya Sports Academy."
A University That Invests in Sport
Sport has a huge focus at Somaiya Vidyavihar University. The University invests in sport while encouraging students to balance and pursue excellence in both their studies and sport, even to the level of competition. The world-class sports infrastructure, long development programs, and expert coaching aid student athletes in the university in developing to their fullest potential.
Samir Somaiya, Chancellor, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, said:
"It is a university's obligation to aid a young person to reach their potential both in the classroom and outside. The health of a student is paramount. A young person puts a value on his life through his sport, discipline, resilience and confidence. And it is sport that generates the competitive and team spirit and sportsmanship that a person takes with him for life."
We are delighted that Suraj is the representative of the country at the 2026 Asian Games. We congratulate Suraj and his coaches and all those in the midst who helped to support him and allow the growth."
The announcement comes shortly before the Somaiya Vidyavihar University proudly hosts the 2026 FISU World University Championship Squash between the dates of the 3rd-9th of August 2026. The Squash Championship will be conducted in collaboration with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and under the auspices of the International University Sports Federation (FISU). Top university squash players from around the globe will play at the University's Eklavya Sports Complex in Mumbai. This championship offers Somaiya student-athletes the chance to play on their home courts. Also, the students who are studying sports and sports management will get the chance to gain experience with the preparation and execution of an international sports event.
Suraj Chand's participation in the 2026 Asian Games is a cause for celebration for Somaiya Vidyavihar University and Somaiya Sports Academy. Somaiya’s investment in the development of athletes and sports professionals at the higher end of the spectrum for several years is bearing results. This represents the international potential of sports students who seek to represent India.
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