PANAJI: Goa’s professional squash player Yash Fadte clinched the Copenhagen Open 2026 title in Denmark, defeating tournament top seed and Swedish No. 1 Joel Vikstön 3-0 in the final.
Fadte produced a dominant performance to win the 51-minute match 11-8, 11-6, 11-5, capping an impressive campaign against international opposition.
The Goan player began his knockout campaign with a 3-1 victory over Denmark’s No. 2 Malthe Laursen in the pre-quarterfinals. He then defeated England’s top junior Chester Dockery 3-0 in the quarterfinals before overcoming England’s Gabriel Cox 3-1 in the semifinals to book his place in the final. Fadte maintained his momentum in the title clash, overcoming Vikstön in straight games to secure the championship.
Reflecting on his victory, Fadte said he was delighted with the achievement, adding that competing in the cold Nordic conditions presented its own challenges. “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,” he said.
“Experience helps you overcome these challenges, and no matter how difficult the conditions are, you have to find a way to get the job done. I’d like to thank my parents, my family, and everyone who has supported me along the way,” Fadte added.
The tournament featured players from India, Pakistan, England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, South Africa, Norway and Finland, bringing together an international field. In the women’s event, Dutch player Huntelaar defeated Malaysia’s Yu Ng Chen 3-2 to claim the title.
The Copenhagen Open triumph marks an important milestone in Fadte’s professional career and provides a strong start to his season. Fadte will next travel to Lyon, France, in two weeks to compete in another tournament before returning to India for the Senior National Squash Championships later in November.
