Velavan Senthilkumar Biography 2026: Age, Early Life, Education, Squash Career, Achievements, Ranking and Personal Life

Velavan Senthilkumar is an Indian professional squash player who has built a strong career in singles and doubles events. Born in Salem, Tamil Nadu, he started playing tennis when he was young before moving to squash during his school years. Over the years, he has represented India at major international competitions and has also made his mark on the PSA Tour.

The year 2026 added another important chapter to Velavan Senthilkumar’s career. At the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, he won a bronze medal in mixed doubles with Joshna Chinappa after India lost a very close semifinal against Hong Kong. He also won a bronze medal in the men’s team event along with Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani. 

Before the Asian Games, Velavan had already enjoyed a strong 2026 season. He won the Asian Squash Doubles Championship with Abhay Singh and later lifted the Budapest Open, where he defeated Hungary’s Balazs Farkas in the final. As of October 2026, Squash Info lists him at world No. 46, while his career-best PSA ranking is No. 39, reached in March 2025.

Velavan Senthilkumar Personal Details

Category	Details
Full Name	Velavan Senthilkumar
Date of Birth	26 March 1998
Age in 2026	28 years
Birthplace	Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
Residence	Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Height	178 cm / 5 ft 10 in
Weight	63 kg
Sport	Squash
Playing Hand	Left-handed
Main Event	Men’s Singles
Coach	Cyrus Poncha; he has also trained with Paul Price and David Palmer
University	Columbia University, New York
Degree	Psychology
Highest PSA Ranking	World No. 39
2026 PSA Ranking	World No. 46 in the current Squash Info listing
Club	Indian Squash Academy
Racket	Tecnifibre
Spouse	Aaradhana Kasturiraj
Nationality	Indian

The basic player details above are listed by Squash Info and Columbia University Athletics. His date of birth is 26 March 1998, which makes him 28 years old in 2026. He plays left-handed and is listed at 178 cm tall and 63 kg.

Early Life of Velavan Senthilkumar

Velavan Senthilkumar was born on 26 March 1998 in Salem, Tamil Nadu. He comes from a family with a strong sporting background, as his mother Shanmukham Priyadharshini was part of the Indian national badminton setup, while his father Ramasamy Senthilkumar played basketball for India. His brother Guhan has also played squash and was associated with the University of Manchester squash programme. 

Velavan did not begin with squash straight away. According to an interview with SquashSite, he started his sports journey as a tennis player at around six years of age and later took up squash when he was in sixth grade. His interest in both sports helped him develop good movement and hand skills, while regular training at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai helped him build a proper squash career. 

His early years in squash brought quick results. In 2016, Velavan won the Asian Junior Individual Championship in the boys’ Under-19 category, beating Jordan’s Mohammad Al-Sarraj in the final. The following year, he won the British Junior Open Under-19 title, becoming only the third Indian player to win the prestigious junior competition at the time. 

Education of Velavan Senthilkumar

Education has always been an important part of Velavan’s journey. After his success at the British Junior Open in 2017, he received interest from colleges in the United States and eventually joined Columbia University in New York. He became part of the Columbia Lions men’s squash team while studying at Columbia College. 

At Columbia, Velavan studied psychology and also became one of the team’s leading players. He was named a First Team All-American in 2018 and earned First Team All-Ivy honours in 2018 and 2019. He was also part of Columbia’s 2018 Ivy League Championship team, showing that he could manage university studies alongside high-level sport. 

Velavan completed his psychology degree from Columbia University in 2022. Even after completing college, he continued to spend time in the United States for training and professional tournaments. His education has therefore remained an important part of his life alongside his squash career. 

Velavan Senthilkumar Squash Career

Velavan joined the PSA Tour in 2014 and slowly moved from junior competitions to the senior professional circuit. His junior success gave him confidence, but the move into senior squash required more experience against older and higher-ranked players. He continued to work with Indian coaches, including Cyrus Poncha, while building his career through PSA events around the world. 

One of his early major senior achievements came in 2018 when he won his first PSA title at the Madison Open in Wisconsin. Over time, he collected titles across different PSA events and became a regular name on the international squash circuit. His progress was also helped by strong performances in Europe, Asia and North America. 

Velavan reached another major milestone in 2023 when he finished runner-up at the Asian Individual Squash Championships in Hong Kong. He became only the second Indian man in the history of the event to reach the final, before losing to Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow. Earlier in that year, he had also won PSA titles including the Poznan Open and other Challenger-level tournaments. 

Velavan Senthilkumar in 2024

The 2024 season was another productive year for Velavan. He won the Batch Open in Paris and the ACE Challenger Tour 12K event in Kuala Lumpur. In the Kuala Lumpur final, he beat Pakistan’s Noor Zaman in straight games, adding another international title to his record. 

He also performed well in doubles during the same period. Partnering Abhay Singh, Velavan won the men’s doubles title at the 2024 Asian Squash Doubles Championships in Johor, Malaysia. The victory strengthened their partnership and added another major Asian title to Velavan’s record. 

Velavan Senthilkumar in 2025

In 2025, Velavan continued to collect important results in both singles and doubles. He won his second National Squash Championship title after defeating Abhay Singh 11-8, 11-9, 4-11, 11-8 in the final at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. The victory was especially notable because it was the fourth consecutive National final between Velavan and Abhay. 

Velavan also won another Asian doubles title with Abhay Singh in 2025. The Indian pair defeated Pakistan’s Noor Zaman and Nasir Iqbal 2-1 in the final of the Asian Squash Doubles Championships in Kuala Lumpur. Their win was part of a clean sweep for India, with Indian pairs taking all three doubles titles at the event. 

At the individual Asian Championships in 2023, Velavan had already won silver, while the 2025 Asian Doubles Championships added more medals to his record. His performances during this period helped him reach a career-high world No. 39 in March 2025. 

Velavan Senthilkumar 2026 Season

The 2026 season began with Velavan competing at major PSA events and international championships. He played at the Hamburg Open and the World Championship, and he also entered the British Open. Although those tournaments did not produce deep singles runs, he continued competing regularly at the highest level. 

In June 2026, Velavan and Abhay Singh won the Asian Doubles Championship in Malaysia. Their partnership again proved successful, as they defeated strong opposition to take the men’s doubles crown. This was another major doubles title for the Indian pair after their successes in 2024 and 2025.

His biggest singles result of 2026 before the Asian Games came at the Budapest Open in August. Velavan entered the PSA Copper event as the eighth seed and defeated Will Salter, Raphael Kandra, world No. 18 Eain Yow Ng and fellow Indian Veer Chotrani before reaching the final. He then beat Hungary’s Balazs Farkas 11-4, 11-2, 11-3 to win the title. 

The Budapest title was significant because it was Velavan’s first PSA Copper-level crown and his 11th PSA Tour title overall. He also entered the final after beating Eain Yow Ng, who was ranked world No. 18 at the time. The result gave him valuable confidence ahead of his first Asian Games appearance in 2026. 

Velavan Senthilkumar at Asian Games 2026

The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya became one of the most important events of Velavan Senthilkumar’s career. He represented India in men’s singles, men’s team and mixed doubles competitions. In mixed doubles, he partnered experienced Indian player Joshna Chinappa. 

Velavan and Joshna reached the mixed doubles semifinal after beating Philippines’ David Pelino and Jemyca Aribado in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal, they faced Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yi and Tang Ming Hong and lost by a narrow 10-11, 11-2, 10-11 scoreline. Because of the Asian Games format, the semifinal defeat gave the Indian pair the bronze medal. 

The deciding game was especially close. Joshna and Velavan moved ahead 10-7 and were one point away from winning, but the Hong Kong pair won four straight points to take the game 11-10. Therefore, Velavan returned from the Asian Games with a bronze medal in mixed doubles, while the Indian pair’s run was one of the closely fought squash matches of the competition.

Velavan also collected a second bronze medal in the men’s team event. India’s team included Abhay Singh, Veer Chotrani and Velavan Senthilkumar, and they reached the semifinal against Malaysia. Veer defeated Sanjay Jeeva to level the tie after Abhay Singh had lost to Eain Yow, but Velavan then lost the deciding match to Ameeshenraj Chandaran 10-12, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9. India therefore finished with the men’s team bronze medal.

The Indian government also officially recognised the mixed doubles medal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar for winning bronze in the squash mixed team event at the Asian Games 2026. This confirmed Velavan’s medal as part of India’s medal-winning campaign in Aichi-Nagoya. 

Velavan Senthilkumar Playing Style

Velavan is a left-handed player, which gives him a different angle against many right-handed opponents. His game includes changes in pace, sharp angles and well-placed drops, allowing him to move opponents around the court. His coaches and teammates have also spoken about his calm approach and his use of different shots during long matches. 

His doubles career has also become an important part of his profile. With Abhay Singh, he has won multiple Asian doubles titles, while his partnership with Joshna Chinappa produced a bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games. Playing both singles and doubles has given Velavan experience in different match situations and against different playing styles.

Velavan Senthilkumar Ranking

Velavan achieved his highest PSA World Ranking of No. 39 on 17 March 2025. He continued to remain inside the top 50 during the 2026 season, although his ranking moved at different points depending on tournament results. The latest Squash Info listing available in October 2026 places him at No. 46 in the world. 

His rise into the top 40 was the result of several years of regular PSA competition. Titles in Challenger events, strong performances against higher-ranked players and success in doubles all contributed to his progress. The Budapest Open victory in August 2026 was another important result in his professional record. 

Velavan Senthilkumar Family

Velavan comes from a sporting family in Tamil Nadu. His mother was associated with Indian badminton, while his father represented India in basketball, giving Velavan an early connection with competitive sport. His brother Guhan has also played squash, so sport has remained an important part of the family. 

His family has also been connected with business. Velavan has spoken about coming from a garment-business family, and his father has continued to keep him updated about the family business. He has also studied textiles because of his interest in the business side of the industry. 

Velavan Senthilkumar Wife and Personal Life

Velavan Senthilkumar married fellow Indian squash player Aaradhana Kasturiraj in June 2024. Their shared connection with squash means both understand the travel, training and competition involved in professional sport. Aaradhana has also been involved in competitive squash in India. 

Outside squash, Velavan has shown an interest in tennis and has spoken about his admiration for Roger Federer. He also enjoys reading, according to his Columbia University profile. These interests give a glimpse into his life away from the squash court. 

Velavan Senthilkumar Hobbies

Velavan has a clear interest in tennis and has followed the sport for several years. Roger Federer is one of his favourite athletes, and the former world No. 1 has been an inspiration for him. Velavan also enjoys reading, which was listed among his interests during his time at Columbia University. 

His interest in the textile industry is another part of his life outside squash. He belongs to a family involved in the garment business and has completed a short course connected with textiles. He has also spoken about staying connected with the family business while continuing his sports career. 

Velavan Senthilkumar Major Achievements

Year	Achievement
2016	Won Asian Junior Individual Championship Under-19
2017	Won British Junior Open Under-19 title
2018	Won Madison Open, his first PSA title
2023	Won silver at Asian Individual Squash Championships
2023	Won Indian National Championship
2024	Won Batch Open in Paris
2024	Won ACE Challenger Tour 12K in Kuala Lumpur
2024	Won Asian Squash Doubles Championship with Abhay Singh
2025	Won Indian National Squash Championship
2025	Won Asian Squash Doubles Championship with Abhay Singh
2026	Won Asian Squash Doubles Championship
2026	Won Budapest Open PSA Copper title
2026	Won Asian Games bronze in mixed doubles with Joshna Chinappa
2026	Won Asian Games bronze in men’s team event

The junior titles from 2016 and 2017 were important early milestones in Velavan’s career, while his senior record later included national, Asian and PSA titles. His 2026 season added the Budapest Open trophy and two Asian Games bronze medals to his list of achievements. 

Velavan Senthilkumar Career Statistics and Record

Category	Record / Detail
PSA Tour debut	2014
Highest World Ranking	No. 39
Highest ranking date	17 March 2025
Current ranking	No. 46, current October 2026 listing
PSA Tour titles	11 reported after Budapest Open 2026
Asian Junior Individual titles	1
British Junior Open U19 titles	1
National Championships titles	2
Asian Doubles Championship titles	Multiple titles with Abhay Singh
2026 Asian Games medals	2 bronze medals
2026 Budapest Open result	Champion

Squash Info lists Velavan as an active 28-year-old Indian player with 178 cm height, a left-handed playing style and a highest world ranking of 39. After the Budapest Open victory, multiple reports described it as his 11th PSA Tour title and his first PSA Copper-level title. 

Velavan Senthilkumar Net Worth

There is no reliable and publicly verified figure for Velavan Senthilkumar’s net worth as of 2026. A player’s income can come from prize money, sponsorships, appearance fees and other sources, but these details are not fully available in public records. Therefore, assigning a specific net worth figure to Velavan would be speculative.

Velavan 2026 season stands out because of his Budapest Open title and his two bronze medals at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. He won mixed doubles bronze with Joshna Chinappa and men’s team bronze with Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani. With a career-high ranking of No. 39 and a current ranking listed at No. 46 in October 2026, Velavan remains one of India’s leading men’s squash players.