World Squash Team Championships 2024: India women stun record champions Australia to reach quarter-finals
The men’s team also made it to the quarter-finals after completing a comeback win against fifth-seeded Malaysia.
Squash
India registered victories in their respective pre-quarterfinal ties in the men’s and women’s events at the World Squash Team Championships 2024 in Hong Kong China on Wednesday.
The Indian women’s squash team stunned nine-time champions Australia to advance to the final eight. Their victory was spearheaded by Anahat Singh and Akanksha Salunkhe, who won their matches in straight games, helping India win 2-1. It's the first time Indian women made the quarter-finals of the tournament in 12 years.
The men’s team, seeded 9/12th, overturned a 0-1 deficit to win 2-1 against fifth-seeded Malaysia courtesy of Veer Chotrani and Velavan Senthilkumar.
Earlier in the day, Anahat Singh, world No. 95, up against a higher-ranked opponent in Jessica Turnbull (62nd), put up a dominating display to win 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-3) and gave India a 1-0 lead in the tie.
Akanksha Salunkhe, 70th in squash rankings, confirmed India’s place in the next round with a 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-6) win against world No. 68 Alex Haydon.
Nirupama Dubey, ranked 205th, fought valiantly against world No. 83 Sarah Cadwell in the final match, but lost 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9).
Later in the men’s tie, Abhay Singh lost the opening match of the tie against world No. 13 Eain Yow Ng 3-0 (13-11, 11-9, 11-5) in 40 minutes.
Veer Chotrani, 87th in men’s rankings, got India back in the tie with a terrific straight games win against world No. 108 Mohammad Syafiq Kamal. The match ended 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-5) in 25 minutes in favour of the Indian.
Velavan Senthilkumar completed the comeback with a 3-1 (11-8, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4) victory against Sanjay Jeeva.
The Indian men’s team will face France in the quarter-finals of the World Squash Team Championships 2024 on Thursday. France, who made it to the semi-finals in the last two editions, defeated South Africa 2-0 in the quarters.
The women’s team, meanwhile, will compete against the United States of America in the quarter-finals on Thursday.