ITHACA, N.Y. — Aishwarya Khubchandani thrives on anticipation. As she stands before a packed dance floor at a Bollywood night, the energy is palpable. The crowd is buzzing but restless, eagerly awaiting the next beat. Aishwarya confidently scrolls through her tracks, feeling the room’s vibe. “I love knowing what they need before they do,” she says. Then, she drops the beat. The bass hits hard, and the crowd erupts with excitement, hands raised in unison.
For Aishwarya, it’s all about timing and reading the energy, which translates not just to DJing but to her life, much like the sport that shaped her—squash. Growing up in Mumbai, her childhood revolved around the Gymkhana, where her brother played sports while she eagerly picked up skills on her own. Her parents—a cleaning business owner father and a French tutor mother—didn’t have a sports lineage, but Aishwarya’s passion for movement was undeniable. At six, she rollerbladed at dawn. Eventually, she found squash when a birthday racquet meant for her brother ended up in her hands.
Squash gave her freedom and creativity. “It’s like chess,” she explains. “You’re always thinking several moves ahead.” By 12, she was representing India at international competitions, and at 14, she was only a teenager among seasoned adult players at the World Junior Championships. “I loved playing for something bigger than myself,” she reflects. Winning became less about her and more about her country.
But life threw her a curveball. In September 2019, while studying for the SATs, a terrible earthquake shook her family’s apartment building, leaving them homeless overnight. The experience was traumatic. She lost cherished items, but her requests revealed what mattered most—her India jerseys, symbols of her pride and representation on an international stage. This moment forced her to confront bigger issues than sports.
Despite her fears, Aishwarya found the strength to compete in the national squash championship shortly after the collapse. She trained away from home, distracted from the chaos. And against all odds, she won. Standing on that court, she cried—not just tears of joy, but as a release of everything she had been through.
As she moved to college, her journey met more challenges. She initially committed to another Ivy League school, but the pandemic altered her plans and left her without the financial aid she needed. Instead of rushing into a situation, she took a gap year to sharpen her skills, embracing a newfound love for computer science. “Building something from nothing is exciting,” she says, showing her adaptability.
Eventually, opportunity knocked when Cornell’s head coach offered her a spot on the team. Aishwarya knew she belonged there, training alongside experienced players and being coached by a world champion. At Cornell, she became an All-American and a team captain, embodying sportsmanship and leadership. Even faced with injuries during her senior season, she maintained perspective, understanding that success is built over time.
Aishwarya hopes to venture into professional squash but is aware of the financial hurdles without sponsors. Looking ahead, she imagines a future where she merges her love for technology, business, and squash. “In a decade, I’d love to work in product management or start my own venture,” she muses, showing her vision for the future.
Her journey exemplifies resilience, creativity, and an instinct for timing. Whether in the squash court or a boardroom, Aishwarya will continue to anticipate needs and seize opportunities. “The best feeling is knowing you created that,” she concludes, whether it’s a beat drop on the dance floor or a multilevel business strategy.
Aishwarya Khubchandani is not just a player in her own game; she’s a force of nature, constantly reading the patterns around her and ready to create her next moment.
