Chhattisgarh to Host Eastern Slam International Squash Tournament; 349 Players to Compete
Raipur
Chhattisgarh is set to host one of the country’s biggest squash events this month, with 349 players from three countries and 21 states scheduled to take part in the Eastern Slam 2026 International Squash Tournament in Raipur.
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao on Tuesday unveiled the official logo of the tournament, which will be held from June 22 to 27 at the Squash Complex, Budhapara. The event has been awarded a Five-Star Rating by the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) and is recognised by both the Asian Squash Federation (ASF) and the Professional Squash Association (PSA).
The championship is expected to be among the largest squash tournaments ever hosted in Chhattisgarh and is likely to attract significant national and international attention to the state’s growing sports infrastructure. The tournament carries a prize purse of $2,000.
Speaking at the logo launch ceremony, Arun Sao said Chhattisgarh was steadily emerging as a destination for major sporting events. He said hosting international-standard competitions would give local athletes an opportunity to compete against top players and gain valuable exposure.
Senior officials of the Chhattisgarh Squash Association, including Dr Vishnu Kumar Srivastava and Rahul Sahu, attended the event. Association representatives said around 50 players from Chhattisgarh are expected to participate in the tournament.
They expressed confidence that the championship would help popularise squash in the state and strengthen Chhattisgarh’s presence on the national and international sporting map. The event is also expected to give local players a rare chance to compete alongside leading national and international talent on home turf.
Preparations for the tournament are now in the final stage, with organisers making arrangements for players and officials arriving from across India and abroad.
