Squash on the Rise: Veer Chotrani on India’s Olympic Dreams and Structural Challenges

NEW DELHI: For Veer Chotrani, squash isn’t just a sport; it’s an intrinsic part of his being. The 24-year-old, currently ranked 38th in the world, reminisces about a life inextricably linked to the court. “I was literally born on a squash court, because my father (Manish Chotrani) was a national champion playing for India,” he shared with TimesofIndia.com during an exclusive interaction. Chotrani’s journey began with formal coaching at four, competitive tournaments by six, culminating in a stellar junior career adorned with multiple Asian Junior titles and a tenure as India’s junior No. 1 across various age groups.

This deep-rooted passion and success story arrives at a pivotal moment for Indian squash, as the sport finally captures the nation’s spotlight.

Weeks prior, 18-year-old Anahat Singh made history, becoming the first Indian to claim the World Junior Squash Championship. Her victory over Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem broke a 16-year dominance by non-Egyptian players in the girls’ title. The junior boys also contributed, securing a bronze medal. On the professional circuit, Chotrani, alongside Abhay Singh (ranked 24th), Ramit Tandon, and Velavan Senthilkumar, represent a remarkable phenomenon: four Indian men consistently within the world’s top 60 for over a year.

The Spark Squash Needed

Chotrani attributes much of this newfound momentum to two key factors: the sport’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and Anahat Singh’s historic win. “Any sport that makes the Olympics for the first time is going to get a lot more publicity, a lot of eyeballs,” he noted. “Especially in India, I think the audience here loves champions, in any sport.”

Anahat’s triumph perfectly timed with this Olympic aspiration, providing Indian squash with a powerful narrative. “Because squash is an Olympic sport, people have confidence in her getting into the Olympics and doing very well for us,” Chotrani explained. “I think the Olympics was the main reason squash became what it is today in the last couple of years, and that we’ve been performing on the world stage.”

The Cornell Connection and How it Worked

Chotrani’s personal trajectory after his junior career led him to Cornell University, where he pursued psychology and honed his skills under the guidance of former world No. 1 David Palmer, who remains his coach. He highlighted the significant role of the US collegiate circuit in his development. “The level of squash in the US collegiate circuit is so high that if you break through and do well there, you have everything you need to give it a shot in professional sport,” he stated, explaining why three of India’s current top-four male players have utilized American facilities.

A growing rivalry between Chotrani and Abhay Singh, India’s current No. 2 and No. 1 respectively, further fuels their determination. Last season, the compatriots faced each other three times, with Chotrani holding a 2-1 advantage, including a memorable win at the World Championships in Cairo. “It’s always hard to play someone from your own country, especially in the big tournaments,” Chotrani admitted, while acknowledging the benefit of such competition. “It’s great to have someone in front of you that you’re chasing. But I also have to remember I have Ramit and Velavan right behind me. All four of us are the same level on our best day.”

The Gaps That Still Persist

Despite the current upswing, Chotrani remains pragmatic about the structural disparities between India and squash powerhouses like Egypt. He believes the issue isn’t a lack of infrastructure. “We have the courts, we have the facilities,” he asserted. “What we need is the right guidance and the right people to help not just the players playing right now, but the future generation too.”

The clearest indicator of this gap is that none of India’s top four male players train domestically. “Why is that? Because we don’t have the right training partners to make us better. We have to be out of India most of the time.” He contrasts this with Egypt, where “A 10-year-old training in a club in Egypt has one of the best players in the world training in that same club to look up to. They have that inspiration, the best coaches, they have everything there.”

This points to a cultural and systemic gap. While government funding has increased, the next challenge is to establish a comprehensive home-grown ecosystem with foreign coaches, fitness experts, and sports psychologists. “None of us would have to go abroad to train. That’s what everybody wants,” he emphasized.

Beyond training facilities, another significant hurdle lies in societal expectations. “Indian culture is a very academic culture,” Chotrani observed with a smile. “Every family wants their kids to have a degree, to pursue medicine or engineering. It’s very rare for a kid to tell their parents, ‘I want to be an athlete.'”

Many junior players in India follow a path similar to his, excelling in juniors before pursuing a U.S. degree, often leading them to cease competitive play. Chotrani clarifies that this isn’t a failure, citing himself, Tandon, and Velavan as examples that academic and athletic pursuits aren’t mutually exclusive. He concludes that India’s future in squash depends less on raw talent and more on its ability to build an environment that fosters and retains that talent. “There are people who’ve done everything: played junior squash, gotten a degree from a good school, and are still playing on the professional tour right now. You can do that too.”