Tanvi Khanna wins SRFI PSA Challenger Squash title after stunning 2-game comeback
Synopsis
Down 0-2 and barely troubling the scoreboard, Tanvi Khanna refused to fold. Her comeback win over Egypt's Farida Walid at the SRFI PSA Challenger in Mumbai — sealed with a home crowd roaring her through the fifth game — is the kind of result that reminds Indian squash it has a fighter worth watching.
Key Takeaways
Tanvi Khanna won the SRFI PSA Challenger women's title on 3 July at JVPG Club, Mumbai .
She defeated second-seeded Farida Walid (Egypt) 3-2 after trailing 0-2 in games.
Final scoreline: 8-11, 2-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7 in 45 minutes .
The win avenged a 2-3 loss to Walid in January 2025 .
Syafiq Kamal claimed the men's title, defeating Yassin Shohdy (Egypt) 3-2 (6-11, 9-11, 11-8, 14-12, 11-8) .
Tanvi Khanna produced one of the tournament's most dramatic reversals on 3 July, clawing back from 0-2 down to defeat Egypt's Farida Walid 8-11, 2-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7 in the women's final of the SRFI PSA Challenger Squash Tournament at the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana (JVPG) Club in Mumbai. The third-seeded Indian completed the turnaround in 45 minutes, simultaneously avenging a 2-3 defeat to the same opponent in January 2025.
How the Match Unfolded
Tanvi, still carrying fatigue from a gruelling five-game contest the previous day, struggled to find her rhythm early. The first game was competitive until 8-8, but two unforced errors handed it to Walid. The second was over in a flash — Tanvi repeatedly found the tin and could not retrieve Walid's drops, conceding 11-2 in roughly four minutes.
The third game appeared to be heading the same way, with Tanvi trailing 4-8, before a stroke award, a precise front-court drop, and an inside-out forehand winner triggered a stunning 8-8 level. She carried that momentum to close out the game 12-10.
The Fightback and Finish
Tanvi raced to a 7-3 lead in the fourth before easing up, allowing Walid to draw level at 9-9. She regrouped to take the game and then opened the decider at a sprint — 5-2, then 7-3 — backed by a vocal home crowd at the JVPG. Walid briefly threatened at 7-8, but Tanvi reeled off three consecutive points to seal the title.
What Her Coach Said
Tanvi, who trains under Dhruv Dhawan in Delhi, credited a mid-match tactical reset for the turnaround. 'I was trying to hit winners in the early stages of the match as I was a bit apprehensive about playing long rallies. My coach told me to just play the points on merit, and I realised that I still had a lot of energy and could play long points,' she said.
Men's Final Result
M. Syafiq Kamal claimed the men's title with an equally hard-fought 3-2 win over second-seeded Yassin Shohdy of Egypt, 6-11, 9-11, 11-8, 14-12, 11-8. Kamal, like Tanvi, had to dig deep after dropping the opening two games before overhauling his opponent in a tense deciding set.
The JVPG results cap a competitive edition of the SRFI PSA Challenger, with both finals going the distance and Indian squash earning a headline win on home soil.
Point of View
Under pressure, takes composure that rankings do not always capture. The SRFI PSA Challenger continues to serve its purpose as a pressure-testing ground, but the real question is whether results like these translate into consistent PSA ranking points that move Indian women up the global ladder.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the SRFI PSA Challenger Squash women's title in Mumbai?
Tanvi Khanna won the women's title at the SRFI PSA Challenger Squash Tournament in Mumbai on 3 July, defeating Egypt's Farida Walid 3-2 after being 0-2 down in games. The match lasted 45 minutes.
What was the final score in the Tanvi Khanna vs Farida Walid match?
Tanvi Khanna defeated Farida Walid 8-11, 2-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7 to win 3-2. She came back from losing the first two games convincingly before dominating the final three.
Who won the men's final at the SRFI PSA Challenger Squash Tournament?
M. Syafiq Kamal won the men's title, defeating second-seeded Yassin Shohdy of Egypt 3-2 with a scoreline of 6-11, 9-11, 11-8, 14-12, 11-8. Like Tanvi, Kamal also came from 0-2 down to win.
Where was the SRFI PSA Challenger Squash Tournament held?
The tournament was held at the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana (JVPG) Club in Mumbai. The women's and men's finals both took place on 3 July.
What did Tanvi Khanna say about her comeback in the final?
Tanvi credited her coach Dhruv Dhawan for the turnaround, saying she had been trying to hit outright winners early due to nerves about long rallies. Her coach advised her to play each point on merit, after which she realised she had the energy to sustain extended exchanges.
