The squash competition at the 38th National Games concluded on a high note, with Tamil Nadu’s Velavan Senthil Kumar and Goa’s Akanksha Salunkhe securing gold medals in the men’s and women’s individual events, respectively.
In the women’s final, Akanksha Salunkhe (Goa) showcased her dominance by defeating Maharashtra’s Anjali Semwal in straight sets (11-6, 
11-9, 11-7) to claim the gold medal. Anjali took home the silver, while Tamil Nadu’s Pooja Aarthi R and Rathika Seelan shared the bronze after their commendable performances in the semifinals.
The men’s final saw Tamil Nadu’s Velavan Senthil Kumar put up a stellar performance, overpowering Maharashtra’s Rahul Baitha with a commanding 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 victory to claim the top prize. Rahul settled for silver, while Abhay Singh (Tamil Nadu) and Suraj Chand (Maharashtra) earned bronze medals.
Road to the Finals
The women’s semifinals witnessed Akanksha Salunkhe (Goa) defeating Pooja Aarthi R (Tamil Nadu), while Anjali Semwal (Maharashtra) overcame Rathika Seelan (Tamil Nadu) to secure her place in the final.
In the men’s category, Rahul Baitha (Maharashtra) advanced to the final after Abhay Singh (Tamil Nadu) retired due to injury, securing a bronze medal. Meanwhile, Velavan Senthil Kumar (Tamil Nadu) delivered a dominant performance against Suraj Chand (Maharashtra) to book his spot in the final.
The squash competition at the 38th National Games concluded with thrilling matches and top-tier performances, as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Goa secured podium finishes, making their mark in the national sporting arena.
