The Indian squash teams had an outstanding day at the 2024 World Squash Team Championships, with both the women’s and men’s teams securing their spots in the quarter-finals after thrilling victories.
The Indian women's team created history by defeating nine-time champions Australia 2-1 in a dramatic round of 16 match in Hong Kong, marking their first appearance in the quarter-finals of the competition in 12 years. The victory was led by stellar performances from Anahat Singh and Akanksha Salunkhe, who won their respective matches in straight games.
Anahat Singh, ranked 95th in the world, gave India a strong start by delivering an impressive 3-0 victory (11-9, 11-6, 11-3) over Australia’s Jessica Turnbull, who is ranked 62nd. Anahat’s performance was clinical, as she took control early in each game to secure a comfortable win, giving India a 1-0 lead in the tie.
Akanksha Salunkhe, ranked 70th, followed up with another dominant performance, defeating world No. 68 Alex Haydon 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-6). Akanksha’s win sealed India’s place in the quarter-finals, with the overall score moving to 2-0. While Nirupama Dubey, ranked 205th, put up a valiant fight in the final match against Sarah Cadwell, world No. 83, she lost 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9). Despite the loss, India had already secured the tie, marking a historic win over Australia.
On the men’s side, India’s team, seeded 9th/12th, made a strong comeback after initially trailing 0-1 against fifth-seeded Malaysia. Abhay Singh, India’s No. 1 player, lost his opening match to Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng, ranked 13th in the world, in straight games 3-0 (13-11, 11-9, 11-5). With India down 1-0, the pressure was on Veer Chotrani and Velavan Senthilkumar to turn the tie around.
Veer Chotrani, ranked 87th in the world, responded brilliantly by defeating Malaysia’s Mohammad Syafiq Kamal, ranked 108th, in a dominant 3-0 win (11-8, 11-6, 11-5) in just 25 minutes. His win leveled the tie at 1-1 and kept India’s hopes alive.
With the tie in the balance, Velavan Senthilkumar stepped up to seal the victory for India. He fought back after losing the second game and secured a 3-1 win (11-8, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4) against Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeeva. Senthilkumar’s composed performance ensured India’s 2-1 victory, sending the team to the quarter-finals.
Both teams' victories were historic milestones for Indian squash, showcasing the depth of talent emerging from the country. The women’s team’s upset over Australia and the men’s team’s resilient comeback against Malaysia have put India in strong contention for a podium finish in the competition. With both teams making it to the last eight, Indian squash is now firmly in the spotlight, and the stage is set for an exciting run in the tournament.
