Can Velavan Senthilkumar Overcome Bernat Jaume in Indian Open Squash?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Velavan Senthilkumar defeats Bernat Jaume with a strong performance.
- Three Indian women players reach the quarterfinals.
- Youssef Soliman remains a tough opponent for Indian players.
- Joshna Chinappa showcases resilience in her matches.
- The tournament highlights the growing popularity of squash in India.
Indore, Nov 19 (NationPress) Current men’s National Champion Velavan Senthilkumar triumphed over Spanish sixth seed and world No. 33 Bernat Jaume with scores of 11-8, 12-10, and 11-4 during the pre-quarterfinals of the Daly College SRFI Indian Open squash Championship, a PSA bronze event, held in Indore on Wednesday. In the women's category, three Indian players advanced to the quarterfinals.
Ramit Tandon also moved forward, achieving a 3-1 victory against Samuel Osborne-Wylde from England with scores of 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, and 11-8.
In a closely contested match, India’s Veer Chotrani pushed the men’s top seed, Youssef Soliman from Egypt, to four games, winning the second game before the higher-ranked player secured victory with scores of 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, and 11-6.
Top Indian player Abhay Singh, seeded fifth, faced defeat against Yannick Wilhelmi from Switzerland with a scoreline of 11-3, 11-3, 11-7, while Suraj Kumar Chand lost to the fourth seed, Sebastien Bonmalais from France, with scores of 10-12, 11-4, 11-1, and 11-7.
In the women’s section, top seed Anahat Singh, along with veterans Joshna Chinappa and Tanvi Khanna, secured places in the quarterfinals.
Anahat dominated Pooja Arthi Raghu, winning 11-2, 11-3, and 11-2 in the pre-quarterfinal. The 39-year-old Joshna Chinappa, a former World Championship gold medallist in doubles, pulled off a stunning comeback against the fourth-seeded Lauren Baltayan of France with scores of 6-11, 11-6, 11-7, and 11-2. Tanvi Khanna outperformed compatriot Unnati Tripathi with scores of 11-1, 11-8, and 11-4. The third seed Hannah Craig from Ireland defeated India’s Anika Dubey with scores of 11-4, 11-1, 8-11, and 11-8.
Results (involving Indians) — Round of 16:
Men: 1-Youssef Soliman (Egy) defeated Veer Chotrani 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-6; 4-Sebastien Bonmalais (Fra) defeated Suraj Kumar Chand 10-12, 11-4, 11-1, 11-7; Yannick Wilhelmi (Sui) defeated 5-Abhay Singh 11-3, 11-3, 11-7; Velavan Senthilkumar defeated 6-Bernat Jaume (Esp) 11-8, 12-10, 11-4.
Women: Joshna Chinappa defeated 4-Lauren Baltayan (Fra) 6-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-2; 5-Nga Ching Cheng (HK) defeated Rathika Suthanthira Seelan 11-3, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5; 3-Hannah Craig (Irl) defeated Anika Dubey 11-4, 11-1, 8-11, 11-8; 6-Tanvi Khanna defeated Unnati Tripathi 11-1, 11-8, 11-4; 1-Anahat Singh defeated Pooja Arthi Raghu 11-2, 11-3, 11-2.