Velavan Senthilkumar reaches Czech Open squash final in Brno
Synopsis
Velavan Senthilkumar is one match away from his second PSA Copper title of the season after dismantling French world No. 32 Auguste Dussourd in straight games at the Czech Open in Brno. With squash set for its Olympic debut at LA 2028, the Indian's consistent run on the PSA circuit is arriving at exactly the right moment.
Key Takeaways
Velavan Senthilkumar beat world No.
32 Auguste Dussourd 11-7, 12-10, 11-1 to reach the Czech Open squash final in Brno .
He will face top seed and world No.
31 Greg Lobban of Scotland in the final.
A win would give Senthilkumar his second PSA Copper-level title of the season, following his Budapest Open 2026 triumph in August .
The Czech Open is a USD 35,000 PSA Copper-level event held in Brno, Czech Republic .
Senthilkumar also won a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 in the Mixed Team event alongside Joshna Chinappa .
Squash will make its Olympic debut at LA 2028 , raising the stakes of the PSA circuit for Indian players.
India's Velavan Senthilkumar has advanced to the final of the Czech Open squash in Brno, a USD 35,000 PSA Copper-level tournament, after defeating French world No. 32 Auguste Dussourd in straight games in the semifinals on 2 November 2026. The fourth-seeded Indian now stands one match away from a second title of the season.
Semifinal Demolition of Dussourd
Senthilkumar was clinical against Dussourd, winning 11-7, 12-10, 11-1 to book his place in the final. The scoreline, particularly in the third game, underlines the sharpness of his court craft as the tournament has progressed. He will face top seed and world No. 31 Greg Lobban of Scotland in the final, who defeated France's Toufik Mekhalfi 11-9, 11-5, 11-4 in the other semifinal.
Route to the Final
Senthilkumar's path to the final has been convincingly one-sided. In the quarterfinals, he beat Argentinian world No. 64 and eighth seed Jeremias Azana 11-3, 11-8, 11-7. According to match reports, after a dominant first game, the rallies grew intense and fast before Senthilkumar found the quality at the front of the court to close out the following games. He had earlier beaten Brazil's Diego Gobbi 11-4, 11-7, 11-2 in the second round, following a bye in the opener.
A Season of Milestones
This run comes on the back of a landmark season for the Indian squash player. In August 2026, Senthilkumar claimed his maiden PSA Copper-level title at the Budapest Open 2026, defeating Hungarian No. 1 Balazs Farkas in straight games. That victory remains the biggest of his career. A win in Brno would make it a second PSA Copper title in the same season — a significant marker of consistency at this level.
Asian Games Bronze and the Road to LA 2028
Senthilkumar's strong domestic and international form was also reflected at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, where he won a bronze medal in the Mixed Team event, partnering with Joshna Chinappa. He was also part of the bronze-winning Indian men's team, which suffered a 2-1 defeat to Malaysia in the semifinal before finishing third on the podium. Notably, squash is set to make its long-awaited Olympic debut at LA 2028, lending greater significance to every international performance Indian players deliver in the run-up.
Point of View
Precisely when the sport is entering its most high-profile phase ahead of the LA 2028 Olympics. His pairing with Joshna Chinappa for an Asian Games bronze adds a team dimension that Indian squash has rarely been able to project together. The challenge now is converting this circuit form into a sustainable ranking climb into the top 20, where PSA points become globally meaningful. Whether the Indian sporting ecosystem builds the infrastructure around players like Senthilkumar before 2028 remains the more important question than any single final result.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Velavan Senthilkumar and why is he in the news?
Velavan Senthilkumar is an Indian professional squash player who has reached the final of the Czech Open 2026 in Brno, a USD 35,000 PSA Copper-level tournament. He beat French world No. 32 Auguste Dussourd 11-7, 12-10, 11-1 in the semifinals to earn his place in the final.
Who will Senthilkumar face in the Czech Open squash final?
Senthilkumar will face top seed and world No. 31 Greg Lobban of Scotland in the final. Lobban defeated France's Toufik Mekhalfi 11-9, 11-5, 11-4 in the other semifinal.
What would a Czech Open title mean for Senthilkumar's season?
It would be his second PSA Copper-level title of the season, after his Budapest Open 2026 triumph in August where he beat Hungarian No. 1 Balazs Farkas. That Budapest win was the biggest of his career at the time.
How did Senthilkumar perform at the Asian Games 2026?
Senthilkumar won a bronze medal in the Mixed Team event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, partnering with Joshna Chinappa. He was also part of the Indian men's team that finished third after a 2-1 semifinal defeat to Malaysia.
When will squash make its Olympic debut?
Squash is set to make its Olympic debut at the LA 2028 Games, making current PSA circuit performances especially important for Indian players aiming to compete on the Olympic stage.
