National Doubles Squash C'ships: Abhay-Velavan, Rahul-Suraj into semis
Synopsis
Defending champions Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar rolled into the semifinals of the 3rd National Doubles Squash Championships with a clinical 11-4, 11-2 demolition, while Abhay also survived a three-game mixed doubles scare alongside new partner Rathika Seelan — setting up a blockbuster semifinal day at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai.
Key Takeaways
Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar beat Shubham and Vedant Patel 11-4, 11-2 to advance to the men's doubles semifinals at the 3rd National Doubles Squash Championships in Chennai .
Abhay and Rathika Seelan survived a tough mixed doubles quarterfinal, winning 10-12, 11-8, 11-9 against Ravi Dixit and Janet Vidhi .
Second seeds Rahul Baitha and Suraj Chand comfortably beat Dinesh R and Meyappan L 11-6, 11-6 to reach the semis.
Top seeds Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan opened their women's doubles campaign with an 11-2, 11-7 win in Group A.
Mixed doubles top seeds Velavan Senthilkumar and Joshna Chinappa cruised past Roshan Rajkumar and Sahana Kalaivanan 11-4, 11-5 .
Defending champions Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar powered into the semifinals of the 3rd National Doubles Squash Championships with a commanding quarterfinal display at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai on Thursday, 14 May. The top-seeded pair, fresh off a first-round bye, wasted no time asserting their dominance in the men's doubles draw.
Abhay-Velavan Cruise Past Patel Brothers
The defending champions dismantled Shubham and Vedant Patel 11-4, 11-2 in the quarterfinals, their sharp court movement and aggressive shot-making leaving the opposition with little room to breathe. The scoreline reflected total control from start to finish as the pair continued their bid to retain the national title for a third successive year.
Abhay and Rathika Survive Mixed Doubles Scare
Abhay's busy day extended to the mixed doubles category, where he is partnering Rathika Seelan this year in the absence of his regular partner Anahat Singh. The second-seeded combination faced a genuine test from Ravi Dixit and Janet Vidhi, dropping the opening game before rallying to win 10-12, 11-8, 11-9. Their composure in the decisive moments of the second and third games proved the difference in what was arguably the most competitive contest of the day.
Men's Doubles Quarterfinal Results
Elsewhere in the men's draw, Ravi Dixit and Vikas Mehra edged past Mathew Godwin and Navaneeth Prabhu 11-7, 10-12, 11-7 in a closely contested three-game affair. The Tamil Nadu pair of Guhan Senthilkumar and Sandhesh PR also advanced, defeating Harinder Sandhu and Om Semwal 11-7, 2-11, 11-8. Second seeds Rahul Baitha and Suraj Chand made light work of their quarterfinal, beating Dinesh R and Meyappan L 11-6, 11-6 to book their semifinal spot.
Women's and Mixed Doubles Action
In the women's doubles Group A, top seeds Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan opened with a confident 11-2, 11-7 win over Sahana Kalaivanan and Sangamitra Shanmugham. Ananya Narayan and Anika Dubey were equally emphatic, beating the same opponents 11-2, 11-1. In the mixed doubles, top seeds Velavan Senthilkumar and Joshna Chinappa brushed aside Roshan Rajkumar and Sahana Kalaivanan 11-4, 11-5. Suraj Chand and Nirupama Dubey edged through 11-9, 12-10 against Navaneeth Prabhu and Pooja Arthi, while Rahul Baitha and Anika Dubey recovered from a first-game deficit to beat Sandhesh PR and Shameena Riaz 10-12, 11-6, 11-8.
Wednesday's Round of 16 Recap
The stage was set by Wednesday's results, where Guhan Senthilkumar and Sandhesh PR had stormed into the quarterfinals with a one-sided 11-1, 11-2 rout of Naman Surana and Pranav Agarwal. In mixed doubles, Ravi Dixit and Janet Vidhi had also advanced after overcoming Dinesh R and Ananya Narayan 4-11, 11-5, 11-8. The semifinals across all three categories are set to produce fiercely contested encounters as the tournament enters its decisive phase.
Point of View
Thrust together by Anahat Singh's absence, already looks battle-hardened after surviving a three-game scare. If the pair can carry that momentum into the semifinals, the mixed doubles draw could yet produce the tournament's defining contest. The broader depth on show — with Tamil Nadu's Guhan-Sandhesh and the Rahul-Suraj pairing both advancing convincingly — suggests Indian doubles squash is no longer a two-name sport, even if the top seeds remain the ones to beat.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who advanced to the semifinals of the 3rd National Doubles Squash Championships?
Defending champions Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar advanced to the men's doubles semifinals after beating Shubham and Vedant Patel 11-4, 11-2. Second seeds Rahul Baitha and Suraj Chand also progressed, defeating Dinesh R and Meyappan L 11-6, 11-6.
Where is the 3rd National Doubles Squash Championships being held?
The tournament is being held at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai. The quarterfinals took place on 14 May.
Why is Abhay Singh partnering Rathika Seelan in mixed doubles?
Abhay Singh is partnering Rathika Seelan in the mixed doubles this year due to the absence of his regular partner Anahat Singh. The second-seeded pair advanced to the semifinals after a hard-fought 10-12, 11-8, 11-9 win over Ravi Dixit and Janet Vidhi.
How did Joshna Chinappa perform in the women's doubles?
Top seeds Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan opened their Group A women's doubles campaign with a convincing 11-2, 11-7 victory over Sahana Kalaivanan and Sangamitra Shanmugham. Chinappa also progressed in mixed doubles alongside Velavan Senthilkumar, beating Roshan Rajkumar and Sahana Kalaivanan 11-4, 11-5.
What were the other men's doubles quarterfinal results?
Ravi Dixit and Vikas Mehra defeated Mathew Godwin and Navaneeth Prabhu 11-7, 10-12, 11-7, while the Tamil Nadu pair of Guhan Senthilkumar and Sandhesh PR beat Harinder Sandhu and Om Semwal 11-7, 2-11, 11-8. Both pairs joined Abhay-Velavan and Rahul-Suraj in the last four.
