Squash Announces Newcomers Ahead of 2024-25 Season
8/29/2024 10:00:00 AM | Men's Squash, Women's Squash
The men’s squad will welcome four newcomers, while the women add three to the roster
NEW YORK – Kenneth W. Torrey Head Coach of Squash Chris Sachvie announced the Columbia men's and women's squash newcomers Thursday. The men's team will add three first-years and a transfer to the roster while the women will welcome three first-years.
"Our coaching staff is very excited about the seven new Lions starting with us this fall," Sachvie said. "Our recruiting strategy is to find student-athletes who are competitive, committed, and have outstanding character and we believe this group is going to shine through at a high level in these categories. Both the men's and women's groups will add depth throughout our lineups and their energy and enthusiasm to get started was felt immediately on move-in weekend."
Details on this season's newcomers are listed below. Fans can also access the men's roster and the women's roster to view the full rosters.
MEN'S SQUASH
Imad Athar – FY – CC – Avon, Conn. / Avon
Prior to Columbia
Helped create a squash team during his time at Avon High School … Played the No. 1 spot on the team, served as captain and also helped coach the squad … Played a major role in leading the team to the Division 7 national high school championship in 2024 … Achieved his highest ranking of No. 1 in the under 11 category … Has been ranked in the top 10 in each age group since being ranked No. 1 … Named a National Merit finalist.
Personal
Born September 30, 2006 in Houston, Texas … Son of Haris and Faiza Athar … Has three siblings, Zain, Daniyal and Omair … Older brother, Zain '21CC played squash at Columbia … Is a citizen of the United States, Germany and Pakistan … Enrolled at Columbia College.
Arhan Chandra – So. – CC – Sugar Land, Texas / Stephen F. Austin
Prior to Columbia
Transfering to Columbia after spending a year at Virginia … Achieved a No. 3 ranking in the U.S. in the 2023 U19 rankings … Played No. 1 and was the team captain for the high school team that won the 2022 Interscholastic High School national championship … Member of the 2023 U.S. squash junior national team … Named a U.S. Squash All American in 2023 … Honored as a U.S. Squash Scholar Athlete in 2022 … Also competed in track and field, cricket and soccer.
Personal
Born October 19, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois … Son of Rishi and Resham Chandra … Has one brother, Sanay … Enrolled at Columbia College.
Varun Fuloria – FY – SEAS – Los Altos, Calif. / The Harker School
Prior to Columbia
Has been passionate about squash since he was nine years old … Has competed at the national and international level with a high rating of 6.18 … Achieved a U.S. national ranking of No. 1 in boys under 11, No. 4 in boys under 13, No. 8 in boys under 15 and No. 7 in boys under 17 … Selected to the U.S. national team competing with Canada in the 2019 and 2023 Battle of the Border … Served as the coordinator for the U.S. Squash Youth and Excellence in Squash Advisory Committee in 2022 … Worked in tandem with the CTO of U.S. Squash on a project to evaluate the robustness of a new player rating algorithm used by the organization in 2021 … A 2024 National Merit Scholar … A three-time AP Scholar with distinction (2022, 2023, 2024).
Personal
Born September 6, 2006 in San Francisco … Son of Prashant Fuloria and Sweta Sarnot … Has one sister, Anika … Enrolled at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Yusuf Sheikh – FY – CC – London, England / Valley
Prior to Columbia
Part of three teams that won squash European Team Championships for England (U15 in 2019, U17 in 2022 and U19 in 2023) … Advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 European Individual Championships … Finished 5th at the 2024 World Junior Team Championships … Posted a second-place finish at the 2020 British Junior Open … Also participated in hockey, cross country, track and rugby.
Personal
Born November 15, 2005 in London … Son of Ali and Muna Sheikh … Has two siblings, Aliza and Sulimaan … Enrolled at Columbia College.
WOMEN'S SQUASH
Andreea Ghiorghisor – FY – BC – Călărași, Romania / National College Barbu Stirbei
Prior to Columbia
A member of the Remat Călărași team since 2016 … A three-time individual senior national champion … Part of the national team that finished in second place in Division three at the 2023 European Team Championship … A six-time individual junior national champion.
Personal
Born March 7, 2005 … Daughter of George Mihail Ghiorghisor and Mirela Ghiorghisor … Has one sibling, Alexandra … Enrolled at Barnard College.
Sophia Hu – FY – CC – Newtown Square, Pa. / The Episcopal Academy
Prior to Columbia
Earned four letters as part of the Episcopal Academy girls varsity squash team … Served as team captain in 2023 and 2024 … Helped lead the team to a 5th place finish at the 2022 and 2023 High School Nationals … Named Second Team All-Interac as a senior … Finished third at the 2023 Silver Nationals GU19 … Also played field hockey … A PSAT National Finalist and Coca-Cola Semifinalist … Volunteered with SquashSmarts and was an AIGOLearning director.
Personal
Born February 10, 2006 in Abington, Pennsylvania … Daughter of Peter Hu and Sherry Xiao … Has one sibling, Stanley … Both parents work as statisticians … Enrolled at Columbia College.
Eva Salzman – FY – CC – New York, N.Y. / Dwight School
Prior to Columbia
Finished in third place at the Canadian Junior Open GU17 … Advanced to the semifinals at the Dutch and German Open, and the quarterfinals at the British and US Open … Worked as a squash coach at SquashRX, River Club and for private clients … Partnered with two friends to set a Guinness World Record for the fastest time to travel to all New York City ferry stops in 2024.
Personal
Born May 23, 2006 in Greenwich, Connecticutt … Daughter of Steve and Dobrinka Salzman … Has two siblings, Teddy and Sophia … Father, Steve wrested at Yale and still holds the program record for all-time wins … Mother, Dobrinka immigrated from Bulgaria and is a graduate of Juilliard … Enrolled at Columbia College.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on the Columbia squash programs, be sure to follow the teams on X and Instagram (@CULionsSquash), on Facebook (Facebook.com/ColumbiaSquash), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.
"Our coaching staff is very excited about the seven new Lions starting with us this fall," Sachvie said. "Our recruiting strategy is to find student-athletes who are competitive, committed, and have outstanding character and we believe this group is going to shine through at a high level in these categories. Both the men's and women's groups will add depth throughout our lineups and their energy and enthusiasm to get started was felt immediately on move-in weekend."
Details on this season's newcomers are listed below. Fans can also access the men's roster and the women's roster to view the full rosters.
MEN'S SQUASH
Imad Athar – FY – CC – Avon, Conn. / Avon
Prior to Columbia
Helped create a squash team during his time at Avon High School … Played the No. 1 spot on the team, served as captain and also helped coach the squad … Played a major role in leading the team to the Division 7 national high school championship in 2024 … Achieved his highest ranking of No. 1 in the under 11 category … Has been ranked in the top 10 in each age group since being ranked No. 1 … Named a National Merit finalist.
Personal
Born September 30, 2006 in Houston, Texas … Son of Haris and Faiza Athar … Has three siblings, Zain, Daniyal and Omair … Older brother, Zain '21CC played squash at Columbia … Is a citizen of the United States, Germany and Pakistan … Enrolled at Columbia College.
Arhan Chandra – So. – CC – Sugar Land, Texas / Stephen F. Austin
Prior to Columbia
Transfering to Columbia after spending a year at Virginia … Achieved a No. 3 ranking in the U.S. in the 2023 U19 rankings … Played No. 1 and was the team captain for the high school team that won the 2022 Interscholastic High School national championship … Member of the 2023 U.S. squash junior national team … Named a U.S. Squash All American in 2023 … Honored as a U.S. Squash Scholar Athlete in 2022 … Also competed in track and field, cricket and soccer.
Personal
Born October 19, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois … Son of Rishi and Resham Chandra … Has one brother, Sanay … Enrolled at Columbia College.
Varun Fuloria – FY – SEAS – Los Altos, Calif. / The Harker School
Prior to Columbia
Has been passionate about squash since he was nine years old … Has competed at the national and international level with a high rating of 6.18 … Achieved a U.S. national ranking of No. 1 in boys under 11, No. 4 in boys under 13, No. 8 in boys under 15 and No. 7 in boys under 17 … Selected to the U.S. national team competing with Canada in the 2019 and 2023 Battle of the Border … Served as the coordinator for the U.S. Squash Youth and Excellence in Squash Advisory Committee in 2022 … Worked in tandem with the CTO of U.S. Squash on a project to evaluate the robustness of a new player rating algorithm used by the organization in 2021 … A 2024 National Merit Scholar … A three-time AP Scholar with distinction (2022, 2023, 2024).
Personal
Born September 6, 2006 in San Francisco … Son of Prashant Fuloria and Sweta Sarnot … Has one sister, Anika … Enrolled at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Yusuf Sheikh – FY – CC – London, England / Valley
Prior to Columbia
Part of three teams that won squash European Team Championships for England (U15 in 2019, U17 in 2022 and U19 in 2023) … Advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 European Individual Championships … Finished 5th at the 2024 World Junior Team Championships … Posted a second-place finish at the 2020 British Junior Open … Also participated in hockey, cross country, track and rugby.
Personal
Born November 15, 2005 in London … Son of Ali and Muna Sheikh … Has two siblings, Aliza and Sulimaan … Enrolled at Columbia College.
WOMEN'S SQUASH
Andreea Ghiorghisor – FY – BC – Călărași, Romania / National College Barbu Stirbei
Prior to Columbia
A member of the Remat Călărași team since 2016 … A three-time individual senior national champion … Part of the national team that finished in second place in Division three at the 2023 European Team Championship … A six-time individual junior national champion.
Personal
Born March 7, 2005 … Daughter of George Mihail Ghiorghisor and Mirela Ghiorghisor … Has one sibling, Alexandra … Enrolled at Barnard College.
Sophia Hu – FY – CC – Newtown Square, Pa. / The Episcopal Academy
Prior to Columbia
Earned four letters as part of the Episcopal Academy girls varsity squash team … Served as team captain in 2023 and 2024 … Helped lead the team to a 5th place finish at the 2022 and 2023 High School Nationals … Named Second Team All-Interac as a senior … Finished third at the 2023 Silver Nationals GU19 … Also played field hockey … A PSAT National Finalist and Coca-Cola Semifinalist … Volunteered with SquashSmarts and was an AIGOLearning director.
Personal
Born February 10, 2006 in Abington, Pennsylvania … Daughter of Peter Hu and Sherry Xiao … Has one sibling, Stanley … Both parents work as statisticians … Enrolled at Columbia College.
Eva Salzman – FY – CC – New York, N.Y. / Dwight School
Prior to Columbia
Finished in third place at the Canadian Junior Open GU17 … Advanced to the semifinals at the Dutch and German Open, and the quarterfinals at the British and US Open … Worked as a squash coach at SquashRX, River Club and for private clients … Partnered with two friends to set a Guinness World Record for the fastest time to travel to all New York City ferry stops in 2024.
Personal
Born May 23, 2006 in Greenwich, Connecticutt … Daughter of Steve and Dobrinka Salzman … Has two siblings, Teddy and Sophia … Father, Steve wrested at Yale and still holds the program record for all-time wins … Mother, Dobrinka immigrated from Bulgaria and is a graduate of Juilliard … Enrolled at Columbia College.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on the Columbia squash programs, be sure to follow the teams on X and Instagram (@CULionsSquash), on Facebook (Facebook.com/ColumbiaSquash), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Squash
/ Women's Squash
/ Men's Squash
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