Joshna Chinappa's Josh is on a high!

Joshna Chinappa with her Japan Open trophy

If India's squash ace Joshna Chinappa, fondly known on the circuit as Josh, is currently asked ‘How's the josh?' she would reply with an emphatic ‘High, sir' just like in the 2019 Bollywood blockbuster Uri: The Surgical Strike.

Chinappa has been on a high for sure. Earlier this year, Chinappa won the Asian Championship women's doubles title with Anahat Singh in June after which she made the semis at the Indian Open. And the fact that she's 39, an age where most professional sportspersons either hang up their gear or switch to coaching, makes her most recent success - the Japan Open win in Yokohama on Monday - extra special. Add to this the fact that the current World No. 117, who underwent a knee surgery following her bronze medal win at the 2023 Asian Games, conquered three higher-ranked Egyptians en route, and you can gauge the level of determination that has helped Chinappa excel for over two decades. "It feels great to win a tour title after a long time," Chinappa tells mid-day, having bagged her 11th Professional Squash Association (PSA) title after a decade.

Tough path in Yokohama

At Yokohama, Chinappa beat Malaysia's 18-year-old Anrie Goh (Round 1) followed by France's fifth seed, 18-year-old Lauran Baltayan. She then overcame the Egyptian trio of, 21-year-old World No. 49 and second seed Nardine Garas (quarters), 23-year-old fourth seed Rana Ismail (semis) and third seed 21-year-old Haya Ali (final). Chinappa puts the hard-earned win over players nearly half her age in perspective: "As I am competing with so many younger players, who are so physically solid and skilled, I have to ensure my training compliments being able to compete at a level that has become incredibly high right from the first round onwards. Of course, playing the Egyptians many times in one tournament is quite a challenge too," adds Chinappa, who has achieved a career high World No. 10 ranking in the past.

Joshna Chinappa on the secret to her longevity

Next up are a couple of PSA events in India followed by the World Cup in Chennai in December. Chinappa though must listen to her body: "My knee surgery was necessary mainly so that I could have quality of life. I wasn't thinking about competing, but my surgeon told me that I can definitely play too. It's been wonderful that I can play at this level, but my priority is my health. I must ensure I get the best out of body without over-doing it."

So what motivates someone who has won medals at the Asian Championships, South Asian Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cups, in short, in every squash competition on the planet?

"I enjoy training and playing. As long as I still have some squash left in me, I want to give it my best. It's down to being consistent and putting in that work day in day out. I have had the same routine for the last two decades."

‘LA 2028 too far to think of'

If squash is finally making its Olympic debut at Los Angeles in 2028, it's because of this grind that has been put in by players like Chinappa over the years. However, she isn't sure of wielding the racquet till then. "It's great that squash is at the LA Olympics, but it's a bit too far for me right now to think about," Chinappa signs off.