In the 79th Western India Slam, a prestigious Professional Squash Association Challenger tournament with a prize pool of USD 9,000, two-time champion Anahat Singh and top seed Akanksha Salunkhe advanced to the semi-finals in their respective categories.
The event, held at the CCI courts, saw exciting performances from both Indian players as they made their way through the quarter-finals with dominant wins.
Anahat Singh, the 16-year-old sensation from India, continued her impressive run in the tournament. She defeated her compatriot and eighth seed Anjali Semwal in straight games, winning 11-3, 11-7, and 11-7.
Anahat's consistency and precision on the court allowed her to maintain control throughout the match, demonstrating why she is a two-time champion of the event.
Akanksha Salunkhe, the top seed in the women’s competition, also advanced to the semi-finals in impressive fashion.
She faced Hong Kong's Sze Wing Wai in the quarter-final and easily defeated her with a score of 11-5, 11-4, and 11-3. Akanksha’s performance was a display of excellent skill and composure, and her victory sets her up as one of the favourites for the title.
In the men’s competition, the top two seeds, Viktor Byrtus from the Czech Republic and Malaysia’s Ameeshenraj Chandaran, also secured their places in the semi-finals.
Viktor Byrtus, the number one seed, faced Hong Kong’s Wailok To in the quarter-finals and won comfortably in straight games, 11-6, 11-3, and 11-5. Viktor’s powerful play and tactical approach were on full display as he powered past his opponent.
Ameeshenraj Chandaran, the second seed, had a similar dominant showing against Egypt's fifth seed Yassin Shohdy. He won the match with a scoreline of 11-6, 11-2, and 11-5. Ameeshenraj’s aggressive play and swift movement on the court were key factors in his victory, making him a strong contender for the title.
The tournament continues to be a thrilling showcase of squash talent, with Anahat and Akanksha leading the charge for India in the women’s event. Meanwhile, Viktor and Ameeshenraj are proving their mettle in the men’s draw. With the semi-finals approaching, all eyes will be on these top players as they fight for a place in the final.
In the men’s quarter-finals, India’s Veer Chotrani pulled off an exciting win over Sri Lanka’s Ravindu Laksiri. After a closely contested match, Veer emerged victorious with a 11-7, 10-12, 11-9, 11-4 scoreline.
Meanwhile, Rowan Damming from the Netherlands secured his spot in the semi-finals with a 11-8, 11-5, 11-13, 11-6 win over Rahul Baitha of India.
The results in the women’s quarter-finals also saw Egypt’s Nour Khafagy and Jana Swaify advancing.
Nour Khafagy defeated Hong Kong’s Wong Po Yui Kirstie with a score of 11-8, 11-3, and 11-9, while Jana Swaify had to come from behind to defeat Bobo Lam of Hong Kong. After losing the first game 4-11, Jana won the next three games 11-6, 11-5, and 11-8 to secure her place in the semi-finals.
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