At just 21, Indian squash player Shameena Riaz has already achieved what many young athletes dream of representing India at the Asian Games and returning home with an international medal. Her journey from the courts of Chennai to the podium at the 2026 Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026, is a story of sporting heritage, determination, education and the courage to create an identity of her own. Born on 11 August 2005 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Shameena comes from a distinguished sporting family. Her father, Mohammed Riaz, is a former captain of the Indian national field hockey team and a two-time Olympian. Her mother, Mehnaz, also played hockey and represented Tamil Nadu at national-level competitions. Sport, therefore, was deeply embedded in the family environment in which Shameena grew up. Yet, rather than simply following her parents into hockey, she chose to build her own path in squash.
Shameena’s introduction to squash was almost incidental. As a child, she accompanied her father to the Madras Cricket Club in Chennai, where she got an opportunity to try squash. Her family encouraged her to pursue a sport she enjoyed, and soon afterwards she joined the Indian Squash Academy (ISA) in Chennai. That moment proved transformative. The ISA became the foundation of her sporting development, with her father serving as an important mentor and experienced international sportsperson guiding her through the psychological and competitive demands of elite sport. According to reports, Shameena has trained at the Indian Squash Academy for around 11 years and has worked with coach Cyrus Poncha.
Her early journey was not without setbacks. Like many young athletes, she experienced periods of repeated defeats and disappointment. She has spoken about how she would become upset after losing matches, but the constant encouragement of her parents and coaches helped her remain committed. Instead of allowing early failures to define her, she used them as motivation to improve. That resilience has become one of the defining characteristics of her career.
Shameena began making her mark at national and international junior competitions at a young age. She represented India at the World Junior Squash Championships, including the 2022 and 2023 editions. At the 2022 World Junior Championships, she recorded a victory in the opening round against New Zealand’s Anabel Romero Gemmell. Her progress continued on the domestic circuit. At the 2022 National Games in Gujarat, she was part of the Tamil Nadu team that won silver in the team event. A year later, she helped Tamil Nadu win gold in the team event at the 2023 National Games in Goa. Another significant milestone came at the 31st Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships, where she represented India and won a gold medal, an achievement recorded by the Anna University Sports Board in its annual report.
These achievements established Shameena as one of India’s promising young squash players and helped her make the transition from junior competition towards the professional circuit.
What makes Shameena’s story particularly inspiring is that her ambitions extend beyond the sporting arena. She is pursuing Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) at SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Chennai. In 2026, she was identified as a second-year ECE student at SRMIST while simultaneously competing at the highest level of international squash. Managing a demanding engineering programme alongside international-level sport requires extraordinary discipline. Training, tournaments, travel and recovery have to be balanced with lectures, examinations and academic responsibilities. Shameena has made it clear that she intends to complete her engineering education even as she develops her career as a professional squash player. Her ability to pursue both objectives makes her a powerful example of the modern Indian student-athlete someone who does not see academic excellence and sporting excellence as competing ambitions.
The defining breakthrough of 2026 came when Shameena was selected for the Indian squash team for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The selection itself was historic for the young athlete. It represented the culmination of years of training, junior competition and gradual progression into senior-level squash. At the Asian Games, Shameena joined an experienced Indian women’s squad featuring Joshna Chinappa, Anahat Singh and Tanvi Khanna. The Indian quartet produced a strong campaign in the women’s team competition, remaining unbeaten during the pool stage before progressing through the knockout rounds. India defeated Singapore in the quarterfinal before losing to Hong Kong in the semifinal. The result was a bronze medal for India. For Shameena, it was her first Asian Games appearance and her first Asian Games medal a remarkable achievement at the beginning of her senior international career.
Her Asian Games success also brought recognition from Tamil Nadu. Shameena publicly acknowledged the support provided by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and the state government, particularly the assistance made available to athletes preparing for the Games. She said the support helped the players with training and other requirements before travelling to Japan. Her achievement was also celebrated by SRMIST, where she has emerged as a source of pride for the institution. But perhaps the most significant aspect of her Asian Games campaign is what comes next. Rather than treating the bronze medal as the destination, Shameena has identified it as another step in a much larger journey. She has spoken about her ambition to train harder and ultimately aim for the Olympics.
Shameena Riaz’s story is not simply about being the daughter of a celebrated Olympian. Her family gave her a sporting foundation, but her achievements belong to her. Her progression has also been reflected in her professional ranking. She reached a career-high PSA world ranking of 149 in July 2026, underlining her development as a senior player. Her story represents a changing India an India where young women can simultaneously pursue professional sport, higher education and national representation. With her sporting pedigree, academic commitment, professional ambition and determination to compete at the highest level, Shameena Riaz stands as an inspiring example of young India’s talent, resilience and limitless potential.