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  Competitive squash makes successful debut in Odisha
11 May 2026
 

Competitive squash made a modest debut in Odisha with the staging of the 1st Odisha State Closed Squash Championship at the DSYS Building, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar on 9 and 10 May 2026. Organised by Odisha Squash Association (OSA), under the aegis of Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), the two-day championship featured competition in three categories – mens, womens and masters (above-35 men) singles.

Since it was a closed championship, meant only for Odisha players, the organizers could get a total of 34 entries for the three events. Most of the participants were veterans, who played the sport in their heydays, or newcomers. Quite a few tennis players and coaches, including Alina Sayed, Ajay Nishank and his daughter Ahana were there in the fray. So was chess International Master Swayangsu Satyapragyan.

 

Mehul Rathor (Cuttack) emerged as the star of the championship, winning both the mens and masters titles, defeating Anjan Patnaik (Cuttack) in the two summit clashes. The womens title was claimed by Ali Sayed, who won the final against Khitija Jena.

The hard work of OSA office-bearers, including player-cum-organizing committee chairman Nafis Sayed and as well as eminent coach-cum- technical director Gautam Das, and the support of the Department of Department of Sports & Youth Services (DSYS), Government of Odisha, which provided the infrastructure, including the all-important squash court, made the State championship a grand success.

The closing ceremony was graced by Olympian and Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey as the chief guest. The event was also attended by distinguished guests, including CSM Technologies chairman Priyadarshi Pany, cricketer-turned-legislator Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra and IFS officer Dr Sanjay Swain. Earlier, the championship was inaugurated by Odisha Olympic Association secretary Avijit Paul.

IMPORTANT RESULTS:

Men:
Semifinals: Mehul Rathor bt Ujendra Bhanj Deo 11-3, 11-7; Anjan Patnaik bt Roshan Mishra 11-3, 11-9. Final: Mehul Rathor bt Anjan Patnaik 11-4, 11-8.

Masters: Semifinals: Mehul Rathor bt Subhendra Kumar Prusty 11-9, 11-5; Anjan Patnaik bt Nafis Sayed 11-6, 11-6. Final: Mehul Rathor bt Anjan Patnaik 12-10, 11-5.

Women: Semifinals: Alina Sayed bt Ahana Nishank 11-0, 11-4; Khitija Jena bt Shikriti Pattanaik 11-5, 11-5. Final: Alina Sayed bt Khitija Jena 11-2, 11-1.
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TOP: Top three prize winners (L-R) Subhendra Kumar Prusty, Roshan Mishra, Mehul Rathor, Anjan Patnaik, Alina Sayed and Khitija Jena pose with their trophies at the 1st Odisha State Closed Squash Championship in Bhubaneswar on 10 May 2026.

RIGHT: Mens and Masters champion Mehul Rathor receives one of his two trophies from hockey Olympian Dilip Tirkey in Bhubaneswar on 10 May 2026.

 
   

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