Defeats Swedish No. 1 and top seed Joel Vikstön in straight games; sets sights on Lyon tournament and Senior National Championships

Panaji, October 26: Goa’s professional squash player Yash Fadte has brought international glory to the state by clinching the prestigious Copenhagen Open 2026 title in Denmark, defeating tournament top seed and Swedish No. 1 Joel Vikstön in a commanding straight-game victory.

Fadte dominated the 51-minute final, registering an impressive 3–0 win with scores of 11–8, 11–6 and 11–5 to secure the championship.

The Goan squash star displayed remarkable consistency throughout the tournament, overcoming strong international opponents on his way to the title.

In the pre-quarterfinals, Fadte defeated Denmark’s No. 2 Malthe Laursen 3–1 before comfortably overcoming England’s leading junior player Chester Dockery 3–0 in the quarterfinals. He continued his winning momentum in the semifinals, defeating England’s Gabriel Cox 3–1 to book his place in the final.

The Copenhagen Open featured competitive players from India, Pakistan, England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, South Africa, Norway and Finland, making Fadte’s triumph particularly significant.

Reacting to his achievement, Fadte expressed happiness over the victory while acknowledging the challenges of competing in Nordic weather conditions.

“I’m really happy with this achievement. Playing in the cold Nordic conditions brings its own challenges, but as a professional athlete, you have to be prepared for everything,” Fadte said.

He emphasised that experience and determination were crucial in overcoming difficult playing conditions and thanked his parents, family and supporters for their encouragement throughout his sporting journey.

The women’s championship was won by Dutch player Huntelaar, who defeated Malaysia’s Yu Ng Chen 3–2 in a closely contested final.

The Copenhagen Open victory marks an encouraging beginning to Fadte’s competitive season and another important milestone in his growing international squash career.

Fadte will next compete in Lyon, France, in two weeks, before returning to India for the Senior National Squash Championships scheduled later in November.

His latest achievement adds another feather to Goa’s sporting cap and reinforces his growing reputation on the international squash circuit.