Velavan Senthilkumar: Squash Success vs. Financial Struggle

Winning your first Copper-level crown in Budapest is a huge achievement, but for Chennai’s 28-year-old squash player Velavan Senthilkumar, it also highlights a tough financial reality for athletes in his sport. While you might expect big prize money for such a feat, the entire tournament’s prize pool was only $43,500.

Squash’s Tough Financial Game

The financial landscape for professional squash players is quite challenging. Compare it to tennis, where the ATP Tour hands out over $180 million in prize money annually.

– The PSA Tour, squash’s top circuit, distributed only about $8.95 million in the 2022-23 season.

– A squash player ranked 100th might earn $20,000-$35,000 annually before expenses.

– Your annual expenses for flights, hotels, coaching, and physiotherapy can easily range from $30,000-$40,000.

As fellow Indian squash player Abhay Singh candidly advises, you should pursue squash only for the love of the sport, not for financial gain, because you might end up with “empty pockets.” This shows just how demanding it is to make a living in professional squash.

A Glimmer of Hope: Olympic Inclusion

However, things are starting to look up for the sport, thanks to its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This major development is beginning to attract much-needed government and corporate funding.

– Velavan Senthilkumar, Abhay Singh, and Anahat Singh have been added to India’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which funds their training, coaching, equipment, and travel.

– HCL has expanded its partnership with the Squash Rackets Federation of India, launching the HCL India Squash Tour across six Indian cities with equal prize money for men and women.

– The JSW Indian Open, a $40,000 PSA Copper event, has also brought top-level international squash back to India.

Historically, the high cost of building squash courts, which are significantly more expensive than badminton courts, has limited the sport’s reach in India, keeping it mostly to exclusive clubs. Players like Abhay Singh are advocating for portable glass courts in public spaces to make squash more accessible to you and other aspiring athletes.

Despite the financial hurdles, Velavan continues to pursue his passion, drawing on rigorous mental and physical training. With the sport’s evolving financial structure, you can hope for a more sustainable future for dedicated players like him.