CM Vijay announced ₹30 lakh each for Chennai squash players Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar on 26 Sep 2026 after their mixed doubles bronze at the Asian Games in Japan.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Saturday, September 26, 2026, announced a cash incentive of ₹30 lakh each for Tamil Nadu squash players Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar, who won the bronze medal in the mixed doubles event at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi–Nagoya, Japan.
The Indian pair reached the semifinals of the mixed doubles, where they lost a closely fought match to Hong Kong, China’s Lee Ka Yi and Tang Ming Hong by 1–2 (10–11, 11–2, 10–11). The semifinal finish earned India the bronze medal (Kodagu Express).
Congratulating the duo, the Chief Minister said their achievement had brought pride to India and Tamil Nadu, and that it would inspire the younger generation of sportspersons in the state. He reiterated the government’s support for talented athletes (Kodagu Express, Daily Pioneer).
| Player | Background |
|---|---|
| Joshna Chinappa | Born in Chennai (1986); one of India’s most decorated squash players — Commonwealth Games gold, multiple Asian Games medals, Arjuna Award (2013) and Padma Shri (2024) |
| Velavan Senthilkumar | Chennai-based player; with Joshna, a medallist at the Asian Doubles Squash Championships |
Both players have trained under the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu’s ELITE scheme, according to the Daily Pioneer.
The award is one of a series of incentives the Chief Minister has announced for Tamil Nadu athletes at these Asian Games. Days later, on October 1, both players were again rewarded — this time for team bronze medals.
Related: ₹30 lakh each for four squash players after team bronzes (Oct 1)
Sources: Kodagu Express, Daily Pioneer, Wikipedia (player background).
Asian Games 2026 Squash Day 139