Joshna Chinappa, 40, reaches Asian Games mixed doubles semifinals in Nagoya, securing medal
On September 25, 2026, Joshna Chinappa combined with Velavan Senthilkumar to reach the mixed doubles semifinals at the Asian Games in Nagoya, progressing from their quarterfinal at Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena Court Number 6 and thereby assuring themselves of a medal.
Barely 10 days after turning 40, Chinappa is competing at her seventh Asian Games and has collected six medals across those appearances; she made her Asian Games debut in Busan in 2002 and has now played more editions than fellow Indian squash player Saurav Ghosal, who retired last year after six appearances.
After her quarterfinal match, Chinappa spoke to PTI about her preparation and experience, saying: "I feel great, obviously, playing in my seventh Asian Games. I didn't think I would be here playing my seven Asian Games, as people say. I train hard, five to six hours a day with different sessions, five or six days a week. I feel very fortunate to still be healthy, to still be fit, to still play for India. I honestly just take it one day at a time."
On her objectives at the Games she was explicit: "I don't really have any targets, to be honest. Right now, I'm just happy playing for India, playing at the Games. I haven't thought about the future, what's next, none of that. I'm really just thinking about the present," she said.
Chinappa credited a dedicated support group for sustaining her career: "I have a very good fitness trainer, psychologist, coach. So, I have a full village of people. My nutritionist, my dietician, everybody. They help me play every day. I also do a lot of meditation. I do a lot of breathing exercises. All of that," she said.
The mixed doubles medal in Nagoya will become Chinappa's sixth Asian Games medal; her previous haul comprises two silver and three bronze medals — a singles bronze in 2018, team silver medals in 2014 and 2018, and team bronze medals in 2010 and 2022. An Asian Games gold remains absent from her collection, though the article notes she has won gold in World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships in various events.
Addressing how her preparation has evolved with age, Chinappa said: "As you get older, you know, your body is not the same...as you cross 35, I felt that I've had to change my training a lot. I, obviously, cannot train the way I used to. Now, it's obviously very controlled. I do a lot of gym strengthening, a lot of, making sure my body is ready for the next session. Because it obviously doesn't recover the way it used to. I mean, I feel better today than I did when I was younger. But I still feel there's a lot more effort that goes into being able to play today." She also noted she last won a PSA singles title in October last year and that singles remains her primary discipline: "I still play the singles. The doubles is only during the Games, which is once every four years. And, of course, we play the world doubles, but that has not happened in a long time. So, I'm predominantly a singles player. And, doubles is just when, you know, we get together to win a medal."
Commenting on squash's Olympic debut and India's prospects, Chinappa said: "I think, firstly, it's amazing, it's about time that squash is in the Olympics. And, of course, we have such a young, amazing group of players from India who are all potential to make LA 2028. And, in two years, they're going to be a lot stronger, a lot more at the top of their game. So, I definitely think one of them could definitely win us a medal."
By advancing to the semifinals in Nagoya, Chinappa and Senthilkumar have guaranteed at least a mixed doubles medal and will contest the Asian Games mixed doubles semifinal.
