Akanksha defends National Games squash gold in style

Panaji: When Los Angeles hosts the Olympics in 2028, Goa’s squash star, Akanksha Salunkhe, is hoping she rubs shoulders with the best in the world as the sport makes its debut at the biggest sporting spectacle on earth.
Akanksha proved her worth once again as she breezed past Maharashtra’s Anjali Semwal 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 to win gold in women’s singles at the 38th National Games in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, on Monday.
This was her second gold at the National Games after emerging on top during the 2023 edition in Goa.
“I am happy and proud to have won the National Games gold medal for the second time. It is an indication of my squash career heading in the right direction. It motivates me to work harder as well,” Akanksha told TOI after her gold-medal winning effort.
For the second successive edition of the National Games, the 26-year-old dominated from start to finish as she picked up the gold without dropping a game.
She started her campaign with a 11-1, 11-3, 11-2 win against Aadya Budhia (Jharkhand) and then outclassed Riyansika Verma (Karnataka) 11-1, 11-4, 11-8. In the quarterfinals, Akanksha trounced Maharashtra’s Anika Dubey 11-2, 11-9, 15-13 and got the better of last edition's finalist Pooja Aarthi (Tamil Nadu) 11-3, 11-8, 11-2 to seal a place in the final.
“The National Games happened during my professional season, so I was more than prepared to compete. The competition was more or less the same as last time,” said Akanksha.
Based in the United States, Akanksha is ranked 65th in the World Rankings and is presently training with coach Ritwick Bhattacharya in Mumbai. She is backed by the Olympic Gold Quest.
The Vasco resident’s squash journey started in 2009, and as she started showing promise, trophies followed. For the last seven years, she has been training abroad to remain in top form.
In India, she is the number two behind another rising sensation, Anahat Singh, ten years younger.
“It is a very important gold for the state. Youngsters look up to Akanksha,” said Goa Association of Squash president Vinod Parkkot.
Parkkot feels the sport is receiving good response since the new infrastructure was created at Chicalim, ahead of the National Games. The association conducts training camps for 40-50 youngsters.
“Goa can produce more champions. They are not going to be successful overnight, but the signs are very encouraging. Squash is a skill-based sport,” said Parkkot.
Akanksha’s next targets are to win the 15k PSA happening in Chennai and Mumbai in March.
Meanwhile, Akanksha teamed up with Panigrahi sisters Sukrita and Sushmita to defeat Chhattisgarh and win bronze in the team event. The team was coached by Pintoo Rai.