PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Columbia women's squash senior
Simmi Chan was named the winner of the 2025 College Squash Association Betty Richey Award Winner at CSA championship reception on Friday evening. The award recognizes Chan as the CSA Sportswoman of the Year.
The Betty Richey Award is the CSA's most prestigious award given annually to a senior women's squash player who has demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship during her entire college career while maintaining a high level of play. Chan was joined by Habiba Eldefrawy of Harvard and Molly Chadwick of Princeton as the 2025 Betty Richey Award Finalists.
Chan is the most decorated Columbia women's squash player in the history of the program. She has been named to the First Team All-Ivy squad all four years. She was the unanimous 2023-2024 Ivy League Player of the Year. She is also a two-time First Team All-American selection.
Chan did not lose a college match from January 2022 through March 2024. This included an undefeated 2022-2023 season capped off with Columbia's first women's Individual national title. Outside the CSA, Chan has helped Hong Kong win an Asian Team Championship and finish fifth at the 2022 Women's World Team Championships. She became the youngest Hong Kong woman to win an Asian Individual Title in 2023 and was a silver medalist at the 2022 Asian Games in the individual and team event. Chan's highest world ranking is No. 33.
Chan is beloved by her coaches and teammates for her thoughtfulness, work ethic and pleasant nature. She always leads by example and has shown that you can have success on the PSA Tour, represent your country and be an impactful and committed member of a collegiate squash team. She has been voted Most Valuable Player by her peers after the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons. She has been a part of a small leadership group for the squash team as a senior helping provide insight and feedback to the coaches. She was also awarded the Ken Torrey Citizenship Award in 2024 given to the men's or women's squash team member who exemplifies the true spirit and performance of the Columbia Squash student-athlete.
FOLLOWING 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.