Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], December 14 (ANI): India made historical past, reserving their place within the Squash World Cup for the primary time ever, beating defending champions Egypt in a semifinal conflict at Chennai on Saturday.
The Indian squash crew, second-seeded within the competitors, outclassed two-time champions Egypt, who had lifted the title in 2012 and 2023, by 3-0 within the semifinals to achieve the finals for the primary time in historical past, as per Olympics.com.
India’s problem within the ultimate might be Hong Kong, who beat Japan within the different semifinal, with the title conflict scheduled for Sunday.
This is India’s best-ever look on the marquee event, outdoing the semifinal end within the 2023 version, the place India misplaced to Malaysia and obtained a bronze medal.
National champion Velavan Senthilkumar, forty fifth within the males’s squash rankings, obtained India to a fantastic begin, beating world No. 96 Ibrahim Elkabbani 3-0 (7-1, 7-3, 7-6) within the opening rubber.
Anahat Singh, India’s top-ranked girls’s participant at world No. 28, continued to provide her crew the momentum, doubling the lead with a hard-fought 3-2 (6-7, 7-5, 7-3, 3-7, 7-3) victory over the Forty fourth-ranked Nour Heikal. At 17 years previous, Anahat is the youngest participant featured within the event and has made her debut on this version.
Abhay Singh, who teamed with Anahat throughout the bronze-winning Asian Games 2023 marketing campaign, delivered the killer blow to Malaysia, beating Adam Hawal 3-1 (7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 7-6) and a clear sweep was unleashed on two-time champions.
As a consequence, Joshna Chinappa didn’t have to contest in opposition to Nardine Garas.
India is having a scorcher of a run within the event, but to drop a tie, beating Switzerland and Brazil by 4-0 margins within the group stage and outclassing South Africa 3-0 within the quarterfinals.
The 2025 version of the event marks the third successive time it’s being held in Chennai. 12 groups competed, divided in 4 teams of three, with the highest two from every group making to ultimate eight stage. (ANI)