Neglected by Goa, Fadte wins top squash award in US

Panaji: Yash Fadte, a senior at the University of Rochester, has been honoured with the prestigious College Squash Association (CSA) Skillman Award, recognising his sportsmanship and skill throughout his college career in the United States.
The Skillman Award is the top honour in men's college squash, given each year to a senior student-athlete who has displayed outstanding sportsmanship and skill throughout their college career.
Fadte was Rochester's number one player on the ladder all season long. He competed in the top bracket at the CSA Individual Championships in January and ends his career with a 52-23 record, cracking the top-10 in all-time wins in program history.
His dedication earned him multiple accolades, including three First Team All-Liberty League selections and the 2023 Liberty League Player of the Year title.
“All this would not have been possible without the unwavering support of coaches, teammates, and family,” said Fadte. “This award is a testament to the collective effort and passion of the entire Rochester squash community. I am filled with immense pride and gratitude.”
A champion squash player from Goa, Fadte, 23, felt unloved and completely unsupported by the state government, all through his 12-year squash journey that helped him win the Junior US Open, Junior French Open, Indian Open, besides silver medals at the Dutch Open, Hong Kong Open, and more importantly, the U-19 Asian Junior Squash Championship in 2019.
Fed up with the poor treatment in Goa, he decided to accept a scholarship from the University of Rochester and did not even return to represent the state when Goa hosted the 37th National Games at home, where, given his track record, he would have been a medal contender.
Fadte has now set his sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, committing to an intensive training regimen to represent his country on the global stage.
"Yash is the kind of player who will do anything for his teammates," said his coach Matt Dukarm. "His light-hearted nature and love for the game makes him a beloved figure in our programme, and coaching him has been an absolute privilege. His presence and impact will be felt for years to come."
In the women’s section, the top honour for the 2025 Richey Award was bagged by Simmi Chan, the most decorated player in Columbia women’s squash history, leaving a lasting legacy both on and off the court.
A four-time First Team All-Ivy selection, she was the unanimous 2023-24 Ivy League Player of the Year and a two-time First Team All-American. Simmi finished both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons undefeated, going a perfect 16-0 in her final year.