For someone who spends his days chasing squash balls around a court, Velavan Senthilkumar has his eyes on a rather bigger prize: an Olympic medal. Fresh from the Asian Games with two bronzes, the Chennai-based squash player knows a thing or two about nail-biting rallies, fine margins and the occasional what-could-have-been. Between historic wins, gruelling travel and the art of keeping his cool under pressure, there’s plenty to unpack. But ask him what he really craves when he’s back home, and the answer has nothing to do with medals. Excerpts:
A historic win, at home The 2025 Squash World Cup victory in Chennai offered a different kind of high. His Budapest Open title and 2017 British Junior Open win remain career highlights. Because i crave that a lot when I think of home,” he laughs, i think that’s my go-to cheat meal whenever I’m back home.
“It’s always different when you win somewhere else, but there’s always a difference when you win at home in front of your family and friends,” he admits. Instead, I was just being very present and in the moment, and everything just was in a flow state,” he says. Playing in front of a home crowd made India’s first title all the more meaningful. “I put in a lot of work this summer and in the off-season. I didn’t really focus on the result. For all the cities he has seen, home remains home. With professional sport demanding constant travel, time with family and friends is precious. And his ideal return to Chennai comes with a very specific menu. “I think the one thing I love to eat when I come back home is a nice mutton biryani with a chilled zero-sugar cola and some artisanal ice cream.