Western India Squash Slam: Anahat and Akanksha Shine in PSA Semifinals

Mumbai, Dec 20 (NationPress) Two-time champion Anahat Singh of India has effortlessly moved into the semifinals of the women’s division at the 79th Western India Slam, a USD 9,000 prize-money Professional Squash Association (PSA) Challenger event being held at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) courts on Friday.

The 16-year-old Anahat Singh, who recently returned from Hong Kong after aiding the Indian women's team to a seventh-place finish at the World Squash Team Championship 2024, has maintained her excellent form.

Having secured two bronze medals in the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou — one in the Women's team and another in mixed doubles — Anahat triumphed over eighth seed Anjali Semwal (IND) with scores of 11-3, 11-7, and 11-7 during the quarterfinals.

Also making her way to the semifinals is the top seed, Akanksha Salunkhe of India, who defeated Hong Kong’s Sze Wing Wai in a commanding performance, winning all three games with scores of 11-5, 11-4, and 11-3.

In the men’s bracket, the top two seeds, Viktor Byrtus from the Czech Republic and Ameeshenraj Chandaran from Malaysia, have both secured their spots in the semifinals.

The number one seed Byrtus achieved a decisive victory over seventh seed Wailok To from Hong Kong, winning with scores of 11-6, 11-3, and 11-5. Meanwhile, second seed Ameeshenraj Chandaran overcame fifth seed Yassin Shohdy from Egypt with a scoreline of 11-6, 11-2, and 11-5. Indian sixth seed Veer Chotrani and Rowan Damming from the Netherlands also progressed to the semifinals.

Complete results:

Men (quarterfinals): 2-Ameeshenraj Chandaran (MAS) defeated 5-Yassin Shohdy (EGY) 11-6, 11-2, 11-5; 6-Veer Chotrani (IND) defeated 3-Ravindu Laksiri (SRI) 11-7, 10-12, 11-9, 11-4; 4-Rowan Damming (NED) defeated Rahul Baitha (IND) 11-8, 11-5, 11-13, 11-6; 1-Viktor Byrtus (CZE) defeated 7-Wailok To (HKG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-5.

Women (quarterfinals): 2-Anahat Singh (IND) defeated 8-Anjali Semwal (IND) 11-3, 11-7, 11-7; 3-Nour Khafagy (EGY) defeated 6-Wong Po Yui Kirstie (HKG) 11-8, 11-3, 11-9; 5-Jana Swaify (EGY) defeated Bobo Lam (HKG) 4-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8; 1-Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) defeated Sze Wing Wai (HKG) 11-5, 11-4, 11-3.