Three Young Athletes from Maharashtra Qualify for Asian Junior Squash Championships

Pune, April 06, 2026: Three young athletes supported by the Chance2Sports Foundation have qualified for the selection round of the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships, highlighting the impact of grassroots sports development initiatives in India.

Anika Dubey from Pune, Akanksha Gupta from Thane, and Vasundhara Nangare from Kalamb successfully cleared the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) selection round and are now in contention to represent India at the continental tournament scheduled to be held in Panzhihua, China, in May 2026.

The three athletes are part of the Kanga Kids programme, a collaboration between Chance2Sports Foundation and Kanga, which focuses on identifying and nurturing talent from diverse geographies, including underserved regions.

The programme has trained over 300 athletes since its inception, with several participants going on to achieve national-level recognition. The latest milestone reflects the programme’s efforts to bridge access gaps in sports training and infrastructure.

The selection process for the Asian Junior Championships involves qualification through national ranking points earned across tournaments such as Sub-Junior and Junior Nationals, Indian Junior Open, and Khelo India Youth Games. Selected athletes then compete in trials conducted under the supervision of SRFI and the Sports Authority of India.

Vasundhara Nangare’s journey from Kalamb, a town without a dedicated squash court, underscores the programme’s outreach approach, which focuses on talent identification at the grassroots level. Similarly, Anika Dubey, an Asian bronze medallist in the Under-17 category at the 2025 championships, and Akanksha Gupta, a returning participant at the Asian level, represent consistent progression within the system.

Commenting on the initiative, Abhinav Sinha, Co-Founder, Chance2Sports Foundation, said: "I've always believed in the potential of young athletes from overlooked areas. Instead of waiting for talent to approach us, we sought it out. It's been a privilege to watch these athletes achieve things the system never planned for them."

Chetan Desai, Co-Founder, Chance2Sports Foundation, added: "We are flipping the model. Dedication, discipline, and consistency matter more than privilege. What these three girls have achieved at the selection round is proof that the system works — and that it deserves to grow."

The initiative is part of a broader effort by Chance2Sports to expand grassroots sports development through a planned ₹25 crore fundraising programme over the next five years. The organisation aims to support 150 athletes with advanced coaching, nutrition, and sports science, while strengthening access to high-performance training infrastructure.

The upcoming Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships will feature participants from over 17 countries across multiple age categories, making it one of the most competitive junior tournaments in the region.