INDOMITABLE SPORT STAR- JOSHNA CHINAPPA

Squash – a sport less heard of; not yet that popular to know the shining stars of this field and the laurels bought in by this game to our country .

Never before India has won a medal, forget gold in the squash and have been dominated by the western counterparts, until the magnificent win in the women’s double at the Commonwealth Game 2014. The key players being Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal.

One of the pin-up girls in the coming Commonwealth Games – Joshna Chinappa.

Her rackets speak louder than their looks in a sport with a distinct male bias. With 1.73m height, coached by Ritnik Bhattacharya with her lucky mascot Wilson racket, Joshna Chinappa is the youngest Woman National Champion of India.

Talking about her journey, she was born on 15 September,1986 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Her family has been playing the game for the last 4 generations. Her great-grandfather field Marshall K.M. Cariappa, who was also the commander in chief of the Indian Army, was a regular player of this sport. Her father Anjan Chinappa also plays regularly and has represented Tamil Nadu several times. She is now based in Mumbai. She has been playing since the age of 7, and continued her education and completed her education at Lady Andal’s School and completed her graduation in B.A English from the Etiraj College at Chennai.

Talking about her achievements,  at the age of 14, she was crowned the Youngest Senior National Champion. Till date she has played 10 Senior and 10 Junior Championships. She has been ranked World Number 13 as in December 2015.

She has always put the country’s name high-flying and with the latest addition, she is sure to be a role model of many youngsters. She is the first Indian to win British Squash championship in 2013 under 19 category. She turned pro in 2003. Overall she has won eight different Squash championships and even nominated for the Arjaina Award. She is the trainee of the Indian Squash Academy.

Winner – Junior National-2004

Winner – Senior National-2004

Runner up – British Open Junior  -2004

Gold Medal – SAF Games in Pakistan-2004

Runner up – Hong Kong Event-2004

Bronze – Asian championship-2004

Winner – Malaysian Junior-2004

Winner – British open Junior -2005

Gold Medal – SAF Games in Pakistan-2005

 Winner – Asian Junior-2005

Runner up – World Junior in Belgium-2005

Winner – NSC Series Number 6-2009.

She is the beneficiary of the 40 core Lakshmi Mittal’s Championship Trust.

The Chennai girl is glamorous, forth right and full of vitality. Her dream date is footballer Cristiano Ronaldo or a fitness freak who  plays sport and someone she can train and work or with.

This leading star is for sure a key player of the upcoming Rio Olympics, looking forward to many victories.

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Joshna Chinappa Beats Denmark’s Hansen to Win Victorian Open Squash Title