Six Indians reach Chennai PSA Challenger squash quarterfinals
Synopsis
Six Indians are through to the quarterfinals of the PSA Challenger Tour in Chennai — and the women's draw is almost entirely an Indian affair. Pooja Arthi Raghu's upset of fifth seed Nirupama Dubey was the day's standout result, while Suraj Chand and Om Semwal both staged comebacks to advance in the men's draw.
Key Takeaways
Six Indians advanced to the quarterfinals of the Squash PSA Challenger Tour — Chennai on 12 July .
Suraj Chand (second seed) beat Kuwait's Ammar Altamimi 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 after dropping the first game.
Om Semwal (seventh seed) defeated Sri Lanka's Shamil Wakeel 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-3 in a comeback win.
Pooja Arthi Raghu upset fifth seed Nirupama Dubey 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9 in the women's draw.
Diwakar Singh and Ayaan Vaziralli lost in the men's pre-quarterfinals; Shameena Riaz exited in the women's draw.
Six Indian squash players advanced to the quarterfinals of the Squash PSA Challenger Tour — Chennai at the Indian Squash Academy on Sunday, 12 July, delivering a strong collective showing across both the men's and women's draws despite a few early exits on the same day.
Men's Draw: Comebacks and Contrasts
Second seed Suraj Chand recovered from dropping the opening game to defeat Kuwait's Ammar Altamimi 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 and book his place in the last eight. Seventh seed Om Semwal mirrored that resilience, losing the first game before dismantling Sri Lanka's Shamil Wakeel 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-3 to progress comfortably.
However, the day was not without setbacks for the Indian men. Diwakar Singh was beaten decisively by Canada's fourth seed Salah Eltorgman — 11-5, 11-3, 11-2 — while Ayaan Vaziralli fell to Malaysia's Wa Sern Low 11-8, 11-5, 11-9, ending their campaigns in the pre-quarterfinals.
Women's Draw: Upsets and All-Indian Battles
The women's section produced several compelling contests. Eighth seed Unnati Tripathi rallied after dropping the first game to overcome compatriot Ananya Narayanan 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4. Fourth seed Sanya Vats was the most clinical of the lot, dispatching Scotland's Lisa Aitken in straight games without breaking stride.
Pooja Arthi Raghu produced the standout result of the day, defeating fifth seed Nirupama Dubey 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9 in what counts as a notable upset. Third seed Rathika Seelan survived a gruelling five-game contest against Anika Dubey to squeeze through, underlining the depth and competitive intensity among Indian women's players at this level.
The only Indian woman to exit was Shameena Riaz, who lost to Malaysia's Thanusaa Uthrian despite winning the third game convincingly.
India's Quarterfinal Line-up
The six Indians confirmed in the quarterfinals are Suraj Chand and Om Semwal in the men's draw, and Rathika Seelan, Sanya Vats, Unnati Tripathi, and Pooja Arthi Raghu in the women's draw. Notably, the women's section is heavily dominated by Indian players heading into the last eight, setting up the prospect of further all-Indian clashes.
What's Next
The quarterfinals will determine which Indians can push deeper into the PSA Challenger event — a key circuit for players building ranking points on the road to higher-tier PSA World Tour events. With six players still alive, India's performance at the Chennai leg could have meaningful implications for national squash rankings and selection pipelines.
Point of View
Where Indians account for the majority of the last eight, including an upset from an unseeded Pooja Arthi Raghu against a seeded compatriot. The Chennai leg is a ranking event, and these results will matter for players trying to break into higher PSA tiers. Indian squash has long had individual stars; the question is whether this kind of collective quarterfinal presence signals a structural shift in depth, or is a home-draw advantage at a Challenger-level field.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which six Indians reached the quarterfinals at the Chennai PSA Challenger?
The six Indians who advanced are Suraj Chand and Om Semwal in the men's draw, and Rathika Seelan, Sanya Vats, Unnati Tripathi, and Pooja Arthi Raghu in the women's draw. All six won their pre-quarterfinal matches at the Indian Squash Academy on 12 July.
What was the biggest upset of the day at the Chennai PSA Challenger?
Pooja Arthi Raghu's victory over fifth seed Nirupama Dubey — 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9 — was the standout upset of the day in the women's draw. Raghu was unseeded going into the match.
How did Suraj Chand and Om Semwal win their matches?
Both men came from behind after losing the first game. Suraj Chand beat Kuwait's Ammar Altamimi 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6, while Om Semwal defeated Sri Lanka's Shamil Wakeel 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-3.
Which Indians were eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals?
Diwakar Singh lost to Canada's fourth seed Salah Eltorgman 11-5, 11-3, 11-2, and Ayaan Vaziralli fell to Malaysia's Wa Sern Low 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 in the men's draw. Shameena Riaz lost to Malaysia's Thanusaa Uthrian in the women's draw.
Why does the PSA Challenger Tour matter for Indian squash players?
The PSA Challenger Tour is a key circuit for players accumulating ranking points needed to qualify for higher-tier PSA World Tour events. Strong performances in Chennai can directly influence national rankings and selection for international competitions.
