Two-time champion Anahat Singh of India cruised into the semi-finals of the women’s event of the 79th WesternIndiaSlam, a USD 9,000 prize-money Professional Squash Association (PSA) Challenger event and played at the CCI courts on Friday.
The 16-year-old Anahat Singh defeated eighth seed Anjali Semwal (IND) 11-3, 11-7, and 11-7 in a quarter-final match.
Top seed Akanksha Salunkhe of India also progressed to the semi-finals as she defeated Hong Kong’s Sze Wing Wai in three straight games. Akanksha won at 11-5, 11-4, and 11-3.
In men’s competition, the top two seeds Viktor Byrtus of Czech Republic and Malaysian Ameeshenraj Chandaran advanced to the semi-finals. The Number one seed Viktor easily defeated seventh seed Hong Komg’s Wailok To 11-6, 11-3, and 11-5, while second seed Ameeshenraj Chandaran got the better of fifth seed Yassin Shohdy of Egypt 11-6, 11-2, and 11-5.
Results – Men (quarter-finals): 2-Ameeshenraj Chandaran (MAS) bt. 5-Yassin Shohdy (EGY) 11-6, 11-2, 11-5;
6-Veer Chotrani (IND) bt. 3-Ravindu Laksiri (SRI) 11-7, 10-12, 11-9, 11-4;
4-Rowan Damming (NED) bt. Rahul Baitha (IND) 11-8, 11-5, 11-13, 11-6;
1-Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt. 7-Wailok To (HKG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-5.
Women (quarter-finals): 2-Anahat Singh (IND) bt. 8-Anjali Semwal (IND) 11-3, 11-7, 11-7;
3-Nour Khafagy (EGY) bt. 6-Wong Po Yui Kirstie (HKG) 11-8, 11-3, 11-9;
5-Jana Swaify (EGY) bt. Bobo Lam (HKG) 4-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8;
1-Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt. Sze Wing Wai (HKG) 11-5, 11-4, 11-3.