CHINAPPA Joshana

General
DOUBLES PARTNER RETURN
After winning silver together in women's doubles at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, her doubles partner Dipika Karthik took an extended break from the sport in order to start a family. The pair returned to competition at the 2022 World Doubles Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, where they claimed the women's doubles title. "Dipika worked very hard on her fitness to get back on court. The first day we met and played [after her return to training], it was as though she hasn't been anywhere. Dipika is a naturally very good doubles player as well. She makes my life on court better. For me, the reason I've extended my career this long is to play the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games for 2022. The preparation has started two years in advance. All with the aim to be fit and to win medals." (Instagram profile, 10 Apr 2022; timesofindia, 03 Apr 2022; sportstar, 24 Mar 2022, 09 Feb 2022)

ADAPTING HER TRAINING
In 2022 she spoke about how she has adapted her training in her mid-30s in order to keep pace with the younger generation of players. "The game has become a lot faster, players are so much fitter and the depth of the women's game has increased tremendously. So obviously I have had to adapt and keep changing things up, whether it's with my physical training or on court work. The tour is really strong right now with the girls being really fit and strong physically, so, it's been important for me to train correctly and look after my body, especially as I get older. I work with an amazing team in the UK on my strength and conditioning and that has helped me get a lot fitter in recent years. Not that I wasn't putting the work in before but it has gone up a few notches. Staying fit and injury free is the most important aspect for any player." (timesofindia, 03 Apr 2022; sportageous, 21 Mar 2022)

CAREER CHANGING INJURY
The knee injury she suffered in 2011 changed her outlook on the sport. "I feel the knee surgery was the best thing that could have happened to me. It changed everything about my life, whether it was the company I kept or the way I approached my game. It was like starting my career from scratch after being on the couch for six months." (asianage, 28 Apr 2014)

She became the first Indian player to win an Asian championship title when she claimed victory at the 2017 edition of the tournament in Chennai, India. In 2014 she and Dipilka Karthik became the first Indian squash players to win gold at the Commonwealth Games when they triumphed in doubles in Glasgow, Scotland. (hindustantimes, 30 Apr 2017; thebridge, 24 Mar 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 13 Jun 2018)