Ananya Narayanan advances at Chennai Squash PSA Challenger Tour 2025
Synopsis
Ananya Narayanan's four-game comeback win over compatriot Janet Vidhi headlined India's opening-round results at the Chennai Squash PSA Challenger Tour, with Pooja Arthi Raghu and Anika Dubey also advancing — though the men's draw brought mixed fortunes, with only Diwakar Singh progressing for India.
Key Takeaways
Ananya Narayanan defeated Janet Vidhi in four games ( 8-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-5 ) to reach the second round of the women's draw.
Pooja Arthi Raghu produced the most dominant women's performance, beating Mahak Talati 11-3, 11-1, 11-1 .
Anika Dubey also advanced, defeating Kriya Saravanan 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 .
In the men's draw, Diwakar Singh was the standout Indian, winning in straight games over Adarsh Banodha .
Kuwait's Ammar Altamimi survived a five-game thriller against Purav Rambhia , winning 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5 .
All matches were played at the Indian Squash Academy , Chennai , on 11 July .
India's Ananya Narayanan staged a spirited comeback at the Squash PSA Challenger Tour — Chennai, recovering from a game down to defeat compatriot Janet Vidhi in four games and secure her place in the second round of the women's draw at the Indian Squash Academy on Saturday, 11 July.
Ananya's Comeback Win
Ananya dropped the opening game 8-11 but responded with authority, lifting the intensity of her attacking game to dominate the remaining three games 11-2, 11-8, and 11-5. The turnaround was emphatic, underscoring her ability to reset under pressure — a quality that will be tested further as the tournament progresses.
Other Indian Women Advance
Pooja Arthi Raghu delivered the most dominant performance among the Indian women's contingent, sweeping aside Mahak Talati 11-3, 11-1, 11-1 in a one-sided contest. Anika Dubey also progressed with a composed 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 victory over Kriya Saravanan, making it three Indian women through to the next round.
Not all went India's way, however. Navya Sundararajan fell to South Korea's Chaewon Song, who rallied from a game down to win 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5. Eesha Shrivastava was beaten by Malaysia's Thanusaa Uthrian 11-7, 11-6, 11-9, and Vyomika Khandelwal was outclassed by Egypt's Hana Aladdin 11-2, 13-11, 11-2.
Elsewhere in the women's draw, Scotland's Lisa Aitken survived a tough four-game battle against Egypt's Salma Othman, winning 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 14-12. Malaysia's Rui Jean Yek defeated Egypt's Mona Tamer in straight games.
Men's Round One: Mixed Day for India
In the men's opening round, India's Diwakar Singh was among the bright spots, advancing with a straight-games victory over Adarsh Banodha. However, several Indian players were eliminated.
Sri Lanka's Shamil Wakeel edged Lokesh Subramani 8-11, 15-13, 11-9, 11-3 in a closely contested four-game affair. Egypt's Youssef Teleb defeated Vedant Patel 11-9, 11-9, 11-4, Spain's Hugo Jaen beat Shiven Agarwal in straight games, and Malaysia's Harith Danial accounted for Mohit Bhatt 11-8, 11-8, 11-7.
Malaysia's Wa Sern Low defeated Arihant KS, while Kuwait's Ammar Altamimi survived a gruelling five-game battle against Purav Rambhia, eventually winning 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5. Egypt's Adham Roshdy rounded off the day's action with a straight-games win over S. Palanivel Ravikumar.
What's Next
With the second round set to follow, Ananya Narayanan, Pooja Arthi Raghu, and Anika Dubey will look to maintain India's presence in the women's draw at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai. The tournament continues to serve as a key ranking event on the PSA Challenger circuit for emerging players across Asia and beyond.
Point of View
The depth gap between India's top-ranked players and the international field remains visible. The Chennai PSA Challenger is precisely the platform to close that gap, and the results over the next few rounds will indicate whether the domestic pipeline is genuinely strengthening or whether progress remains concentrated in a handful of names.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Ananya Narayanan's first-round match at the Chennai Squash PSA Challenger Tour?
Ananya Narayanan defeated compatriot Janet Vidhi in four games, recovering from dropping the opening game 8-11 to win the next three 11-2, 11-8, and 11-5. She has advanced to the second round of the women's draw.
Which Indian women advanced to the second round at the Chennai PSA Challenger?
Three Indian women progressed: Ananya Narayanan, Pooja Arthi Raghu, and Anika Dubey. Pooja Arthi Raghu was the most dominant, beating Mahak Talati 11-3, 11-1, 11-1.
How did Indian men perform in the opening round of the Chennai Squash PSA Challenger?
India's Diwakar Singh advanced with a straight-games win over Adarsh Banodha, but several others — including Lokesh Subramani, Vedant Patel, Shiven Agarwal, Mohit Bhatt, Arihant KS, Purav Rambhia, and S. Palanivel Ravikumar — were eliminated in the first round.
Where is the Squash PSA Challenger Tour Chennai being held?
The tournament is being held at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai. Matches in the opening round took place on 11 July.
What is the PSA Challenger Tour in squash?
The PSA Challenger Tour is a tier of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour that serves as a key ranking circuit for developing professionals. It provides players outside the top tier an opportunity to accumulate ranking points in international competition.
