Squash: Joshna Chinappa makes a strong start in Indian Tour 4 event in Chennai

An experienced squash star kicked off the HCL Squash Indian Tour 4 on Monday in Chennai’s Indian Squash Academy, drawing a decisive 11‑3, 11‑7, 11‑6 win over fellow Indian Anika Dubey. Joshna Chinappa, aged 39 and a former world No. 10, is already confirmed as part of the four‑person Indian squad set to compete at the SDAT World Cup in the city. Her next match will be against Kiwi Ella Jane Lash, who holds the seventh seed.

The top seeds for both men’s and women’s competitions—Velavan Senthilkumar and Anahat Singh, the current national champions—will receive first‑round byes and begin their campaigns on Tuesday.

Other notable results from the opening round include Suraj Kumar Chand defeating Sandhesh Palanivel Ravikumar 11‑4, 11‑8, 11‑4, while Frenchman Matteo Carrouget edged out Shamil Wakeel of Sri Lanka in a five‑set battle (9‑11, 11‑5, 11‑5, 10‑12, 11‑8). In the women’s draw, Sanya Vats triumphed over Germany’s Katerina Tycova, and Rathika Suthanthira Seelan bested Japan’s Risa Sugimoto. Italian player Cristina Tartarone also secured victory over Shameena Riaz.

The round‑of‑32 results for Indians, unless indicated otherwise, were as follows:

Men’s

• Suraj Kumar Chand beat Sandhesh Palanivel Ravikumar 11‑4, 11‑8, 11‑4
• Adam Hawal (Egy) prevailed over Ayaan Vaziralli 11‑8, 11‑9, 11‑5
• Diwakar Singh overcame Remi Young (Aus) 13‑11, 8‑11, 11‑8, 11‑5
• Louai Hafez (Sui) won against Shiven Agarwal 11‑4, 11‑3, 11‑5
• Matteo Carrouget (Fra) defeated Shamil Wakeel (SL) 9‑11, 11‑5, 11‑5, 10‑12, 11‑8
• Manuel Paquemar (Fra) beat Rahul Baitha 11‑9, 11‑8, 11‑5
• Yash Fadte took the match on Wailok To (HK) 11‑6, 11‑6, 10‑12, 11‑9
• Ravindu Laksiri (SL) bested Om Semwal 11‑6, 11‑8, 11‑8

Women’s

• Sanya Vats defeated Katerina Tycova (Ger) 5‑11, 11‑7, 11‑5, 11‑5
• Fereshteh Eghtedari (Iri) topped Anjali Semwal 11‑7, 11‑5, 10‑12, 11‑2
• Rathika Suthanthira Seelan beat Risa Sugimoto (Jpn) 11‑5, 6‑11, 11‑9, 11‑8
• Cristina Tartarone (Ita) overcame Shameena Riaz 11‑5, 11‑6, 11‑4
• Karina Tyma (Pol) won over Unnati Tripathi 11‑6, 11‑5, 11‑8
• Joshna Chinappa edged Anika Dubey 11‑3, 11‑7, 11‑6
• Tamara Holzbauerova (Cze) defeated Janet Vidhi 11‑4, 11‑4, 11‑1
• Nirupama Dubey beat Colette Sultana (Mlt) 11‑9, 11‑6, 8‑11, 11‑8

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