Velavan Senthilkumar (born 26 March 1998) is an Indian professional squash player.[1] He reached a career-high world ranking of 43rd in November 2024.[2]
Early life
Senthilkumar was born March 26, 1998 in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India to Shanmukham Priyadharshini and Ramasamy Senthilkumar. While his mother was a part of the national badminton team, his father played basketball for the country. His brother Guhan, a student of the University of Manchester, also plays squash. Senthilkumar finished his education from Don Bosco School.[3] When he won the British Junior Open during the 2017 edition, several college coaches contacted him. After some deliberation, he decided to move to the United States to be a part of Columbia University, New York.[4] He became a part of the college's squash team Columbia Lions.[5]
Personal life
Senthilkumar married to fellow Indian squash player Aaradhana Kasturiraj in June 2024.
Career
In 2016, Senthilkumar won the Asian Junior Championships defeating Mohammad Al-Saraj.[6] He then won the 2017 British Junior Open, besting his compatriot Abhay Singh in the final. He bagged his first PSA title in April 2018 at the Madison Open in Wisconsin. He is coached by Paul Price.[7]
Titles and finals
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result | Score | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | British Junior Open |  Abhay Singh
|
Win | 3–1 (16-14, 11-2, 10-12, 11-7) | [8] |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ASF Awards | Outstanding Performance Junior Men | Won | |
| 2023 | Outstanding Team Men | Won | [9] | |
| 2025 | Times of India Sports Awards | Squash Player of the Year Male | TBA | [10] |
See also
References
- ^ "Velavan Senthikumar". PSA World Tour. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
- ^ Velavan Senthilkumar at Squash Info
- ^ Adhikary, Sukanya (26 March 2024). ""If I've given my best, I think about my performance rather than the result" - says National Squash Champion, Velavan Senthilkumar". thebridge.in. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Chennai boy makes it to Columbia University riding on squash success". The Times of India. 13 January 2017. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Velavan Senthilkumar - Men's Squash". Columbia University Athletics. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "VELAVAN SENTHILKUMAR". UNSQUASHABLE. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
- ^ Venkatesan, S. Prasanna (15 May 2024). "Squash player Velavan Senthilkumar says working with mental coach Paul Price has been really helpful". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Helmer, Donna (6 January 2017). "2017 Finals : Six for Egypt as Gilevskiy wins Ireland's first". British Junior Open. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "ASF Awards". Asian Squash Federation. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ "TOISA 2024: Squash Masters Competing for the Coveted Trophy". The Times of India. 18 February 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
External links
- Velavan Senthilkumar at the Professional Squash Association (archived)
- Velavan Senthilkumar at Squash Info
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