Squash razzmatazz hits India: Final rounds of prestigious tournament to be held in transparent glass cubicle at Bombay Gymkhana | Sport-others News

The Professional Squash Association (PSA) has a knack for staging its tournaments at some of the world’s most iconic venues, using glass courts that offer a viewing from every angle. From the Pyramids of Giza to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and New York’s Grand Central Terminal, these settings have turned squash into a spectacle.Now, that spectacle is coming to India.
This Thursday, the semifinals and final of the first-ever PSA Copper event in the country—the JSW Indian Open—will be played on a state-of-the-art glass court at the horic Bombay Gymkhana, a venue steeped in over a century of sporting tradition.
The tournament, which kicked off on Monday, is part of PSA’s prestigious Copper-tier events and offers crucial ranking points and prize money.
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While Mumbai has seen temporary glass courts before, this is the first time a tournament of this stature will be played on one, bringing a world-class, spectator-friendly experience to the city. The transparent court, built for optimal visibility, is more like a showcase for the sport itself, pulling it out of traditional confines and into the public eye.
The excitement surrounding the event couldn’t come at a better time. Squash is riding a wave of global momentum, finally securing its long-awaited spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after years of lobing. With its Olympic future now sealed, the sport is seeing a surge in investment and sponsorship.
The glass court
At the heart of the event is the state-of-the-art glass court, comprising 50–60 precisely engineered glass panels that are bolted together. The court has to meet the strict PSA international standards. Organisers have told The Indian Express that setting up the court costs around 15–17 lakh rupees for just three days of competition.
But the real challenge? The glass itself. Every panel undergoes rigorous testing to ensure it perfectly mimics the rebound and speed of a traditional squash court, allowing players to compete at full intensity without adjusting their technique. To enhance visibility, the glass is specially treated to minimise glare, preventing disruptive reflections that could affect both players and live broadcasts.Story continues below this ad
Bombay Gymkhana squash secretary Sumeet Rewari, said that viewing squash on a glass court is truly an experience, one he hopes could inspire others to take up the sport.
“Spectator experience is extremely important for the sport, whether they’re at the venue or watching the live stream. That’s how the game spreads. You can see how much the most popular sports earn through media rights.
“Watching players play on a glass court will always be much better, as you will never get the same effect on a glass-back court. Here you can see every angle. We’ve created a stadium-like feel around it to accommodate more people. It will be more like a celebration of squash, and it keeps up Bombay Gymkhana’s 150th-year celebrations,” he says.
Fillip to squash
Having the ‘Olympic’ tag gave squash a much-needed boost, and it has completely changed the intensity of the sport. Teen sensation Anahat Singh, who’s India’s top-ranked women’s player, told The Indian Express that the focus on ranking is like never before.Story continues below this ad
“Earlier, rankings were just a means to qualify for bigger competitions. Now, even though the Olympic selection criteria aren’t out yet, we know that our rankings will be the ultimate decider. That means everyone is pushing harder than ever,” she said.
With only a limited number of Olympic spots available—likely just two each for men and women—Indian players are gearing up for a fierce battle on both the international and national circuits.
Only this week, Anahat climbed to a career-best world No. 68 in the latest PSA World Rankings, overtaking Akanksha Salunkhe (World No. 69) to become India’s top women’s squash player.
India’s top-ranked men’s player Ramit Tandon, who lost his pre-quarterfinal match on Tuesday, said Indians should aim to play in Silver and higher tournaments.Story continues below this ad
“Because of my ranking (World No. 28), I get into these bigger tournaments, and it’s a great way to stay at the top. For us Indians to qualify for the bigger tournaments, it’s imperative that we have such tournaments like the Indian Open, so players don’t have the burden of travelling too. Home advantage can work too,” he said.
Having top-level international squash tournaments is something India lacks at the moment and it’s something Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) and JSW, the organisers of the tournament, have vowed to better.
Divyanshu Singh, the COO of JSW Sports, told this newspaper: “One of the challenges that the sporting ecosystem faces across different disciplines is a lack of international competitive tournaments. So that’s our endeavour to get high-quality international tournaments in India,” he said, revealing that they’ve signed a four-year deal with PSA to host the tournament in India.
Still not a mass sport
While the craze for squash has risen over the past year, accessibility to courts is the major issue. In Mumbai, for example, there are no public squash courts; one can only play the sport if they are members of a gymkhana or club that has the facility.Story continues below this ad
Singh said the initial boost has to come from sports promoters.
“As the brands and the media start seeing the audience both on ground and on livestream, it can slowly translate into more and more commercial and sponsored interest. That can help the sport,” he said, referring to the number of pickleball and padel courts that have come up all over.
Accessibility to public courts, limited infrastructure, and a lack of mass appeal continue to hold squash back. But with high-profile events like this, increased investment, and the Olympics in three years, the momentum is shifting.