Nagoya: Barely 10 days after turning 40, Indian squash star Joshna Chinappa has secured her sixth Asian Games medal after partnering Velavan Senthilkumar to reach the mixed doubles semifinals at the ongoing continental Games.

The achievement adds another milestone to an extraordinary Asian Games career. Joshna made her debut at the 2002 Busan edition and is now competing at her record seventh Asian Games appearance.

Her seven appearances have produced six medals, and despite reaching an age when many athletes have already retired, Joshna says she has no immediate plans to slow down.

“I feel great, obviously, playing in my seventh Asian Games. I didn’t think I would be here playing my seven Asian Games, as people say,” the Chennai-based player told PTI after her quarterfinal match at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena.

Joshna credits training and recovery

Joshna believes a disciplined training programme, meditation and breathing exercises have helped her maintain her fitness and continue competing at the highest level.

“I train hard, five to six hours a day with different sessions, five or six days a week. I feel very fortunate to still be healthy, to still be fit, to still play for India. I honestly just take it one day at a time,” she said.

Her approach is deliberately focused on the present rather than setting long-term targets.

“I don’t really have any targets, to be honest. Right now, I’m just happy playing for India, playing at the Games. I haven’t thought about the future, what’s next, none of that. I’m really just thinking about the present,” Joshna said.

She also credited the support system around her for helping her remain competitive.

“I have a very good fitness trainer, psychologist, coach. So, I have a full village of people. My nutritionist, my dietician, everybody. They help me play every day. I also do a lot of meditation. I do a lot of breathing exercises. All of that,” she said.

Six Asian Games medals

The mixed doubles medal is Joshna’s sixth at the Asian Games.

Before the current edition, she had won two silver and three bronze medals at the continental event.

Her previous medals include a singles bronze at the 2018 Asian Games, team silver medals in 2014 and 2018, and team bronze medals in 2010 and 2022.

Her latest achievement also takes her past fellow Indian squash player Saurav Ghosal in terms of Asian Games appearances. Ghosal retired in 2025 after competing at six editions of the continental Games.

Asian Games gold remains missing

Despite her extensive medal collection, one prize is still missing from Joshna’s Asian Games record — a gold medal.

She has already won gold medals at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships in different events, but an Asian Games gold has remained elusive.

Joshna acknowledged the difficulty of winning the top prize at the continental event, given the strength of squash across Asia.

“It is incredibly tough to win gold in the Asian Games. Some of the best players in the world are from Asia. So, after the Olympics, the Asian Games is probably one of the toughest games for us in squash,” she said.

“Winning gold in Asian Games would be special. But right now, I am just taking one match at a time.”

Training has changed with age

Joshna said her training routine has evolved as she has grown older.

“As you get older, you know, your body is not the same…as you cross 35, I felt that I’ve had to change my training a lot,” she said.

She now places greater emphasis on controlled training, strength work and ensuring her body is ready for the next session.

“I, obviously, cannot train the way I used to. Now, it’s obviously very controlled. I do a lot of gym strengthening, a lot of, making sure my body is ready for the next session,” Joshna explained.

Recovery has become another important consideration.

“Because it obviously doesn’t recover the way it used to. I mean, I feel better today than I did when I was younger. But I still feel there’s a lot more effort that goes into being able to play today,” she said.

Singles remains her priority

While Joshna has added another doubles medal to her Asian Games collection, singles remains her primary discipline.

She last won a PSA singles title in October 2025 and said she intends to continue competing in singles.

“I still do play the singles. The doubles is only during the Games, which is once every four years. And, of course, we play the world doubles, but that has not happened in a long time. So, I’m predominantly a singles player,” she said.

For Joshna, doubles remains an opportunity to contribute to India’s medal campaign when major multi-sport events bring players together.

“And, doubles is just when, you know, we get together to win a medal,” she added.

Joshna backs India’s next generation

Squash is set to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, and Joshna believes India’s younger players have the potential to make an impact.

She welcomed squash’s inclusion in the Olympics and pointed to India’s emerging generation of players as a source of optimism.

“I think, firstly, it’s amazing, it’s about time that squash is in the Olympics. And, of course, we have such a young, amazing group of players from India who are all potential to make LA 2028,” Joshna said.

She believes the next two years could give India’s young players valuable time to develop further.

“And, in two years, they’re going to be a lot stronger, a lot more at the top of their game. So, I definitely think one of them could definitely win us a medal,” she added.

At 40, Joshna Chinappa has already rewritten the record for Asian Games appearances by an Indian squash player. With six medals from seven editions and singles still part of her plans, she remains focused on the next match rather than the end of her career.