World Squash Team Championships 2024: India’s medals hopes ends in quarter-finals; to play for positions next

India’s charge in both the men’s and women’s events at the World Squash Team Championships 2024 in Hong Kong China received a blow after going down in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

In the men’s quarter-finals, Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar lost their respective matches in straight games and lost the tie against France. Later, Nirupama Dubey and Anahat Singh’s defeats meant India succumbed in the women’s team event as well.

In the men’s tie against France, Velavan Senthilkumar featured first against world No. 24 Baptiste Masotti. Senthilkumar, ranked 45th, fought well in the first game, but couldn’t match up to the French player and lost 3-0 (14-12, 11-7, 11-7).

Abhay Singh, 54th in squash rankings, lost to world No. 12 Victor Crouin in the opening match 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-4), confirming India’s exit in the men’s event. Earlier in the tournament, Abhay Singh played the opening match of both group stage matches and the pre-quarterfinals, failing to win all three of them.

Nirupama Dubey played first in the women’s tie against the United States of America. The Indian squash player, ranked 206th, lost 3-0 (11-1, 11-5, 11-4) against Caroline Fouts.

World No. 95 Anahat Singh too lost 3-0 (12-10, 11-4, 11-3) to a higher-ranked Amanda Sobhy (30th), ending India’s hopes of a podium finish at the World Squash Team Championships 2024.

The Indian women’s team earlier won two of their three group matches to make the knockout stages, before defeating nine-time champions Australia in the pre-quarterfinals. The men’s team, meanwhile, finished second in their group before downing Malaysia in the round of 16.

Both the Indian teams will play for positions next on Friday.

India have never won a medal at the World Squash Team Championships. Australia are the most successful men’s side in both the men’s and women’s events.