Velavan Senthilkumar reaches Budapest Open squash final, faces Farkas
Synopsis
Indian eighth seed Velavan Senthilkumar has reached his 15th PSA tour final at the Budapest Open after beating top seed Eain Yow Ng and compatriot Veer Chotrani in back-to-back matches. He now faces local favourite Balazs Farkas in a final loaded with head-to-head history — one win each from their 2019 and 2024 meetings.
Key Takeaways
Velavan Senthilkumar (World No.
54 ) reached the final of the Budapest Open Squash Championship , a USD 43,500 PSA Copper event.
He defeated compatriot Veer Chotrani 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 1-11, 12-10 in an all-Indian semifinal on Thursday .
Senthilkumar had earlier stunned top seed and World No.
18 Eain Yow Ng of Malaysia 11-2, 11-9, 11-8 in the quarterfinals.
This is his 15th PSA tour final ; his opponent Balazs Farkas is the local Hungarian favourite.
Senthilkumar and Farkas have split their previous two tour meetings — Farkas won in 2019 , Senthilkumar in 2024 .
Velavan Senthilkumar has secured his place in the final of the Budapest Open Squash Championship, a USD 43,500 PSA Copper event in the Hungarian capital, where he will face local favourite Balazs Farkas in Friday's title decider. The Indian eighth seed, ranked 54th in the world, advanced to his 15th PSA tour final with a dramatic five-game semifinal win on Thursday evening.
Semifinal Thriller Against Chotrani
Senthilkumar edged out third seed and compatriot Veer Chotrani — ranked 38th in the world — 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 1-11, 12-10 in a gruelling all-Indian semifinal. The match went the distance, with Senthilkumar holding his nerve in a tightly contested fifth game to seal the win and book his spot in the final.
Quarterfinal Upset Over Top Seed
Senthilkumar's run to the final began with a stunning quarterfinal victory on Wednesday night, when he dismantled Malaysian top seed and World No. 18 Eain Yow Ng in straight games — 11-2, 11-9, 11-8 — in just 53 minutes. The Indian raced through the opening game with nine consecutive points from 2-2, repelled a late Ng comeback to take the second, and closed out the third to advance to the last four.
Chotrani's Road to the Semis
Chotrani, the third seed, had earlier defeated Egyptian sixth seed and World No. 51 Mohamed El Sherbini 14-12, 12-14, 11-6, 11-8 in the quarterfinals. He had also beaten Rui Soares of Portugal 13-11, 12-14, 11-9, 12-10 in the pre-quarterfinals after receiving a first-round bye. Senthilkumar, meanwhile, had defeated German fifth seed Raphael Kandra 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 11-2 in the pre-quarterfinals, following an opening-round win over Briton Will Salter 11-9, 11-6, 11-5.
Final Preview: Senthilkumar vs Farkas
The final against Balazs Farkas will be their third tour meeting this season. Senthilkumar won their 2024 encounter, while Farkas had prevailed in their earlier 2019 clash. With the momentum of a top-seed scalp behind him, Senthilkumar will enter Friday's final as a strong contender to claim his 15th PSA title on Hungarian soil.
Point of View
But Senthilkumar carries the psychological edge of having won their most recent meeting. Whether Indian squash can convert this kind of consistent PSA presence into broader institutional support remains the larger question.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Velavan Senthilkumar playing in the Budapest Open squash final?
Velavan Senthilkumar will face Hungarian local favourite Balazs Farkas in the final of the Budapest Open Squash Championship. It will be their third tour meeting this season.
How did Senthilkumar reach the Budapest Open final?
Senthilkumar defeated top seed Eain Yow Ng of Malaysia 11-2, 11-9, 11-8 in the quarterfinals, then beat compatriot Veer Chotrani 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 1-11, 12-10 in the semifinals. Both wins came within two days in Budapest.
What is the Budapest Open Squash Championship?
The Budapest Open is a USD 43,500 PSA Copper event held in Budapest, Hungary. It is part of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour circuit.
What is Velavan Senthilkumar's world ranking?
Velavan Senthilkumar is ranked 54th in the world as of the tournament. He is seeded eighth at the Budapest Open.
What is the head-to-head record between Senthilkumar and Farkas?
The two players have met twice on tour previously — Farkas won their 2019 encounter, while Senthilkumar took their 2024 meeting. Friday's final is their third tour clash this season.
