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Squash — rules, the PSA ranking & the first Olympic squash at LA28

Governed by World Squash Federation (WSF) · Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) ·Official rule books & government schemes only ·Last checked 17 Oct 2026

Education Margdarshan's squash map for India in simple words: how a rally, game and match are scored, what a let and a stroke mean, the safety rules, how only 16 men and 16 women will reach squash's first Olympics at LA28, India's medals at the 2026 Asian Games, who pays and the awards and jobs.

📍 See The Journey / Full Roadmap World Squash Singles Rules 2025 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) LA28 squash qualification (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Olympic squash (LA28)
16 men · 16 women — singles only [2]
Game
11 points, win by 2 at 10-all [1]
Match
Best of 5 games (or best of 3) [1]
Asian Games 2026
2 silver, 3 bronze for India [3][4][5]
01 Core rules & selection formats

How squash is scored — and what a let and a stroke are

Squash is played by two players in a closed court. They take turns to hit the ball onto the front wall, above the tin (the low strip at the bottom) and below the out line, before it bounces twice. [1]

  • Every rally scores a point — the winner of a rally scores 1 point and serves next.
  • A game is played to 11 points; at 10-all you must win by 2.
  • A match is normally best of 5 games, sometimes best of 3. There are 2 minutes between games; at most 2 minutes to change broken equipment such as glasses. [1]

Let or stroke — what happens when a player gets in the way [1]

Let or stroke — what happens when a player gets in the way
CallWhenResult
No letNo real interference, or the striker could not have reached the ballRally lost by the striker
LetInterference, but the opponent was making every effort to get out of the wayRally is replayed
StrokeThe opponent did not make every effort to clear, and the striker could have made a good returnPoint to the striker
  • Ask for it by saying 'Let, please' without delay. The referee can also give a let or a stroke without a request.
  • Protective eyewear is compulsory in all WSF junior and doubles events, and recommended for everyone. [1]
02 Institutional & global recognition

First Olympics at LA28 — and India's Asian Games medals

LA28 Olympic squash — the hard numbers [2]

LA28 Olympic squash — the hard numbers
RuleWhat it says
EventsMen's singles and women's singles
Places16 per gender; usually one per country, at most two
Basic ruleBe in the PSA world top 50 on 22 May 2028 (exceptions: universality, final qualifier)
Continental routeThe 2026 Asian Games singles champion (and the other continental Games winners) gets a place, if eligible on 22 May 2028
Ranking route8 places per gender from the PSA ranking of 22 May 2028
Last chanceOne place per gender from a 24-player Final World Qualifying Tournament
  • Asian Games 2026: Abhay Singh (men) and Anahat Singh (women, aged 18) won singles silver, losing both finals to Malaysia; India's men's and women's teams won bronze, and Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar won mixed-doubles bronze. [3][4][5]

Government cash award for a senior squash medal (₹ lakh) [7]

Government cash award for a senior squash medal (₹ lakh)
EventGoldSilverBronze
Olympic Games755030
Asian Games / Commonwealth Games302010
World Individual Championship (every year)1074

The Ministry also lists the World Team, Asian Team, Asian Individual and doubles championships for squash. [7]

03 Physical benchmarks & anti-doping

Ranking, safety and anti-doping

  • For the Olympics the key number is the PSA world ranking — be inside the top 50 on 22 May 2028. Universality places need a top-75 ranking. [2]
  • Wear eyewear made to a proper national standard; it is mandatory in junior and doubles events. [1]
  • Under the anti-doping code you must be available for testing and check every medicine against the Prohibited List; apply to NADA for a TUE if you need a banned medicine. [8]
04 Grassroots-to-elite pipeline

From the club court to the PSA tour

  1. 1Grassroots & local entry Any age
  2. 2PSA tour breakthrough Junior · senior
  3. 3India team Senior
  4. 4International orbit LA28
The full Squash roadmap has its own page

Every stage from first club to the international level, the detailed route and what to eat from stage 1, with sources.

📍 See The Journey / Full Roadmap
05 Training centres & cities

Where squash players train

  • Squash is not among the sports at SAI's National Centres of Excellence or SAI Training Centres, so players train at clubs, academies and state-association courts. [9]
06 Equipment costs & who pays

Courts, rackets and who pays

  • Costs come from court time, coaching, rackets, shoes, eyewear and travel to PSA events. Education Margdarshan does not print shop prices — no governing body publishes them. [1]

Who pays — squash ladder [10]

Who pays — squash ladder
StagePaid byWhat you get
Khelo India athleteMinistry of Youth Affairs & Sports₹6.28 lakh a year incl. ₹1.20 lakh cash
Olympic prospect (LA28 is squash's first Games)TOPS Core Group₹50,000 a month + approved training plan
Athlete in hardshipPDU National Welfare FundUp to ₹2.50 lakh
07 Earning channels & central job quotas

Awards, pension and sports-quota jobs

  • Squash is one of the 65 sports in the central sports quota for Group C posts, with up to 5 years' age relaxation (10 for SC/ST).
  • Medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games or World Championships can bring up to three out-of-turn promotions. [11]
  • Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons: ₹12,000–20,000 a month after retirement. [10]
08 Disqualification traps

Mistakes that cost squash players

  • Not clearing after your shot — the referee can give a stroke (a point) to your opponent.
  • Playing juniors without eyewear — it is compulsory.
  • Asking for a let late, or when you could not have reached the ball — no let. [1]
  • Ignoring the PSA ranking — LA28 needs a world top-50 ranking on 22 May 2028. [2]
09 Real-world player doubts

Olympics, money and jobs — straight answers

Squash is in the Olympics now. How do I get there?

LA28 is squash's first Olympics, with only 16 players per gender. You need a PSA world top-50 ranking on 22 May 2028, or a continental title — the 2026 Asian Games singles titles went to Malaysia, with India's Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh taking silver. A last place per gender comes from a world qualifying tournament. [2][3]

Which government jobs can squash get me?

Central Group C posts under DoPT rules list squash among 65 sports. Neither Western Railway's 2026-27 notice nor CRPF's 2026 sports quota had squash posts — read every recruiter's notice. [11][12][13]

Sports-quota job routes open in 2026 — age, qualifying results, pay [12][13]

Sports-quota job routes open in 2026 — age, qualifying results, pay
RouteAgeMain qualifying resultsPay level
Railways Level 5/4 (graduates)18–25 on 1 Jan 2027Played the Olympics, or top 3 at a World Cup, World Championship, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games or Youth OlympicsLevel 5/4
Railways Level 3/2 (12th, or 10th + apprenticeship)18–25 on 1 Jan 2027Top 3 at Senior, Youth or Junior Nationals, National Games or All India Inter-University; or Federation Cup goldLevel 3/2
Railways Level 118–25 on 1 Jan 2027Played for your state and finished at least 8th at Senior Nationals; or top 3 at the Federation CupLevel 1
CRPF Head Constable (GD) (10+2)18–23 on 1 Aug 2026; sportspersons get +5 years (OBC +8, SC/ST +10)Played for India; or top 3 for your state at Nationals or National Games; or gold/silver at Junior NationalsLevel 4 · ₹25,500–81,100
CRPF Constable (GD) (10th pass)18–23 on 1 Aug 2026; sportspersons get +5 years (OBC +8, SC/ST +10)Played for your state at Senior or Junior Nationals; or top 3 at SGFI school nationals or Khelo India GamesLevel 3 · ₹21,700–69,100

Railways count results from 1 April 2024; CRPF counts the two years before 30 September 2026. Railways fee ₹500 (₹400 back if you attend the trial; ₹250, refunded in full on attending, for SC/ST, women, PwBD, minorities, ex-servicemen and EBC). CRPF fee ₹100 for UR/OBC/EWS men; free for women, SC, ST and ex-servicemen. CRPF picks sign a ₹1 lakh bond to serve at least 3 years. [12][13]

Does any 'national' certificate count for a job?

No. Railways will not recruit on a certificate from a federation MoYAS did not recognise at the time of the championship, and CRPF counts only championships of MoYAS-recognised federations or the IOA's National Games. [12][13]

10 Official sources & verification

Where these facts come from

Every fact on this Education Margdarshan page is taken from the governing body's own rule book or a Government of India file below, read on 17 October 2026. Federations change rules, weight classes and scheme amounts — open the current file before you act on it.

  1. World Squash — Singles Rules 2025 (effective 1 Sep 2025; copy published by the Dutch squash federation) (opens in a new tab) Scoring, intervals, good return, let and stroke, protective eyewear · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  2. World Squash — Qualification System, LA28 Olympic Games: Squash (version 22 June 2026; copy published by the Namibian NOC) (opens in a new tab) 16 per gender, PSA top 50 on 22 May 2028, continental Games winners, ranking places, universality, final qualifier · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  3. All India Radio News — India clinches two silver medals in squash at Asian Games (2026) (opens in a new tab) Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh singles silver; finals lost to Malaysia · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  4. All India Radio News — India's men's squash team bags bronze medal at Asian Games 2026 (opens in a new tab) Men's and women's team bronze · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  5. All India Radio News — Anahat Singh, Abhay Singh enter squash singles finals at Asian Games (opens in a new tab) Semi-final results, Anahat aged 18, Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar mixed-doubles bronze · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  6. All India Radio News — Velavan Senthilkumar wins PSA Budapest Squash Open title (opens in a new tab) PSA tour title for an Indian player · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  7. MYAS — Scheme of Cash Incentive to Medal Winners (amended 1 Feb 2025) (opens in a new tab) Award amounts; squash World Individual (annual), World Team, Asian Team, Asian Individual, doubles · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  8. NADA India — Athlete's Rights & Responsibilities (opens in a new tab) Testing availability, Prohibited List, TUE · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  9. SAI — Brief on Sports Promotional Schemes 2024-25 (opens in a new tab) NCOE and STC sport lists (squash not included) · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  10. PIB — Financial Support to Athletes (5 Aug 2024) (opens in a new tab) Khelo India, TOPS, welfare fund, pension · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  11. DoPT — Instructions on Recruitment/Promotion for Sportspersons (18 Nov 2022) (opens in a new tab) Squash in the 65-sport list, Group C, out-of-turn promotion · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  12. Western Railway RRC — Employment Notice RRC/WR/01/2026 (Sports Quota), 27 Aug 2026 (opens in a new tab) Age 18–25 on 1 Jan 2027, level norms, no squash posts in this notice, MoYAS-recognition rule, fees · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  13. CRPF — Recruitment of Meritorious Sportspersons, HC & Constable (GD), Sports Quota 2026 (Advt. R.II-21/2026-Sports, 17 Sep 2026) (opens in a new tab) Age and relaxation, qualifications, fee, bond; no squash posts in 2026 · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  14. ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition — Dietary Guidelines for Indians (booklet), Guideline 8 (opens in a new tab) Cereal-pulse 3:1 protein quality, vegetarian and non-vegetarian protein sources; most athletes meet protein needs from food, protein powders unnecessary · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
  15. NADA India — Managing the Risk of Nutritional Supplements (opens in a new tab) Supplement risk, strict liability, food-first approach · Last checked 15 Oct 2026

Spotted something out of date? Email margdarshan07support10@gmail.com with the official link and Education Margdarshan will update it.

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