Indian squash stars are shining bright at the Squash Indian Tour 2 in Mumbai! On Tuesday, at the Otters Club, top players Veer Chotrani, Suraj Kumar Chand, Akanksha Salunkhe, and Tanvi Khanna all powered through to the quarterfinals of this exciting PSA Challenger event. It’s a big win for Indian squash on home turf, and fans are loving the action.
Let’s start with Veer Chotrani, the top seed. The 22-year-old got a bye in the first round and didn’t disappoint in his debut match. He took control right away, beating Sri Lanka’s Shamil Wakeel 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 in straight games. Veer mixed smart shots with steady play to cruise into the last eight without any drama.
Not far behind, seventh seed Suraj Kumar Chand put on a show in the men’s draw. Facing Malaysia’s Md Hafiz Abdul Harif, Suraj covered the court like a pro and attacked with confidence, winning 11-6, 11-5, 11-7. This victory boosts India’s strong lineup in the men’s section of the Squash Indian Tour 2.
Over in the women’s side, second seed Akanksha Salunkhe from Goa made quick work of her fellow Indian, Janet Vidhi. Akanksha stayed sharp from the start and sealed an easy 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 win. She’s keeping her title hopes alive in this Mumbai squash tournament.
The match of the day belonged to sixth seed Tanvi Khanna, though. The Delhi player, who finished runner-up in the first leg of the Indian Tour in Jaipur last month, faced a tough battle against Hong Kong’s Bobo Lam. Tanvi dropped the first two games 11-13 and 10-12, but she fought back hard. She turned it around to win the next two 11-6 and 11-4, then edged out the decider 13-11 in a nail-biting finish. What a comeback for Indian squash!
This PSA Challenger squash event, backed by HCL, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, and the Sports Authority of India, draws top international and local talent. With so many Indian players reaching the quarterfinals, the home team looks set to keep the momentum going as the competition heats up in Mumbai.
Here are the key Indian results from the pre-quarterfinals:
– Veer Chotrani defeated Shamil Wakeel (Sri Lanka) 11-5, 11-5, 11-8
– Suraj Kumar Chand defeated Md Hafiz Abdul Harif (Malaysia) 11-6, 11-5, 11-7
– Akanksha Salunkhe defeated Janet Vidhi 11-4, 11-6, 11-3
– Tanvi Khanna defeated Bobo Lam (Hong Kong) 11-13, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4, 13-11
Stay tuned for more updates on these rising squash stars and the thrilling matches ahead!
