Joshna targets Commonwealth Games gold

Currently ranked 10th on the Professional Squash Association tour, Joshna is also focused on winning the Nationals in the next two years.

Accepting Achiever of the Year award by the Rotary Club of Madras, Joshna said the honour would encourage her to put her best foot forward in the Commonwealth Games. If she does well in the Commonwealth Games and the Nationals, she could become the No 1 ranked player in the country again.

Starting her international career with an Under-12 win in 1998 at the Singapore Open, Joshna is scheduled to team up with Chennai-mate Dipika Pallikal in the Commonwealth Games doubles competition where the Indian dup will be defending the title. “It will be tough since all  the top squash teams, except Egypt, will be present,” said Joshna.

Joshna had become the first Indian girl to win the British Junior Championships and she was also a two-time Asian Junior champion.

A hugely successful junior player she turned professional in 2005. After a serious knee injury in 2011 she came back with guts and determination to win the Chennai Open in 2012. 

She won the Arjuna Award in 2013. This was followed by a first ever gold medal in Squash at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games along with team mate Dipika Pallikal as well as a silver in the Asian Games at Incheon. IN 2016, she barged into the top 10 in the world for the first time.