The top seeds Viktor Byrtus and Akanksha Salunkhe scored hard-fought 3-2 wins in the men’s and women’s semi-final competitions of the 79th WesternIndiaSlam, a USD 9,000 prize-money Professional Squash Association (PSA) Challenger event and played at the CCI courts on Friday.

Viktor Byrtus

The Czech number one Byrtus had quaite a fight on hand before he overcame Netherlands fourth seed Rowan Damming 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 1-11, and 11-8 in a well-contested encounter.

Akanksha Salunkhe

India’s top seed Akanksha Salunkhe also encountered a strong challenge from Egypt’s fifth seed Jana Swaify before clinching an 11-5, 12-14, 15-13, 5-11, and 12-10 in a a tight game..

Results – Women’s semi-finals: 2-Anahat Singh (IND) bt. 3-Nour Khafagy (EGY) 3-1 (11-4, 12-14, 11-9, 11-9).

1-Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt. 5-Jana Swaify (EGY) 3-2 (11-5, 12-14, 15-13, 5-11, 12-10).

Men’s semi-finals: 1-Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt. 4-Rowan Damming (NED) 3-2 (7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 1-11, 11-8).

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.

India’s top seeded Akanksha Salunkhe defeated compatriot Tanvi Khanna 11-3, 11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 12-10 in a women’s secod-round match of the 79th WesternIndiaSlam, a USD 9,000 prize-money  Professional Squash Association (PSA) Challenger event and played at the CCI courts on Thursday.

Hong Kong’s Bobo Lam at Western India Squash

Meanwhile Hong Hong’s Bobo Lam sored a shock win over 4^th seed Malta’s Colette Sultana 9-11, 11-3, 11-2, 11-9.

In Men’ competition, Serbia’s top seed Viktor Byrtus defeated India’s Suraj Kumar Chand (IND) 11-6, 11-7, 11-4.

Top seed Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt. Suraj Kumar Chand (IND) 11-6, 11-7, 11-4;

Results –

Women (round 2): Bobo Lam (HKG) bt. 4-Colette Sultana (MLT) 9-11, 11-3, 11-2, 11-9;

5-Jana Swaify (EGY) bt. Janet Vidhi (IND) 11-1, 11-3, 11-2;

1-Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt. Tanvi Khanna (IND) 11-3, 11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 12-10;

Sze Wing Wai (HKG) bt. 7-Tamara Holzbauerová (CZE)3-0: 12-10, 11-4, 11-9;

Sunita Patel (IND) bt. Mahak Talati (IND) 11-1, 11-2, 11-1;

Pooja Arthi Raghu (IND) bt. Mehak Dinesh Gupta (IND) 11-2, 11-1, 11-1.

Men (round 2): 1-Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt. Suraj Kumar Chand (IND) 11-6, 11-7, 11-4;

[7-Wailok To (HKG) bt. Tay Jun Qian (MAS) 11-6, 12-10, 11-4;

Abhishek Pradhan (IND) bt. Shamil Wakeel (SRI) 4-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7;

Rahul Baitha (IND) bt. 8-Shing Fung Lam (HKG) 4-11, 12-10, 17-15, 11-3;

4-Rowan Damming (NED) bt. Lap Man Au (HKG) 11-2, 12-10, 7-11, 11-5;

Former champion Janet Vidhi of India overcame a strong challenge from Malaysia’s Vinikasheinie Kulasegaran posting a 3-0 win in a women’s first-round match of the 79th WesternIndiaSlam, a USD 9,000 prize-money Professional Squash Association (PSA) Challenger event and played at the CCI courts on Wednesday.

Janet Vidhi

Vidhi found the going tough initially and won the first game over extra points. She then won a close second game before she got into her stride and comfortably won the third game to complete a 12-10, 11-8, and 11-3 win in 21 minutes to advance to the second round.

Tanvi Khanna of India also progressed to the second round defeating Serbia’s Jelena Dutina 11-4, 11-2, and 11-2 in just 14 minutes.

In men’s action, India’s Rahul Baitha defeated Sri Lanka’s Tuwin Nilakshana Herath 11-3, 11-8, and 11-7 in 27 minutes, while another Indian Suraj Kumar Chand scored a hard-fought ein against compatriot Diwakar Singh clinching a 12-10, 11-8, and 11-9 victory in 38 minutes.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Tay Jun Qian got the better of Australian James Nicholas winning three straight games at 11-8, 11-9, and 11-5 in 24 minutes.

Results – Women (round 1): Sunita Patel (IND) bt. Mahak Talati (IND) 11-1, 11-2, 11-1;

Pooja Arthi Raghu (IND) bt. Mehak Dinesh Gupta (IND) 11-2, 11-1, 11-1;

Tanvi Khanna (IND) bt. Jelena Dutina (SRB) 11-4, 11-2, 11-2;

Sze Wing Wai (HKG) bt. Vyomika Khandelwal (IND) 11-9, 11-2, 11-2;

Janet Vidhi (IND) bt. Vinikasheinie Kulasegaran (MAS) 12-10, 11-8, 11-3;

Bobo Lam (HKG) bt. Unnati Tripathi (IND) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5.

Men (round 1): Rahul Baitha (IND) bt. Tuwin Nilakshana Herath (SRI) 11-3, 11-8, 11-7;

Lap Man Au (HKG) bt. Yousif Thani (BRN) 11-4, 3-11, 11-7, 11-3;

Suraj Kumar Chand (IND) bt. Diwakar Singh (IND) 12-10, 11-8, 11-9;

Tay Jun Qian (MAS) bt. James Nicholas (AUS) 11-8, 11-9, 11-5.

All-rounder Siddhant Doshi made small, but useful contributions with bat and ball which helped Navi Mumbai SA emerge champions by snatching a tense and thrilling 21-run win against Sunder CC in the MCA President Cup ‘E & F’ Division final played at the Wankhede Stadium, on Sunday.

Left-handed Doshi scored a 54-ball 72 runs, which included five hits to the boundary ropes and two sixes as Navi Mumbai SA piled on a total of 134 for 9 wickets from their quota of 20 overs. Sunder CC medium pacer Sachin Kumar took 3 wickets for 11 runs and left-arm spinner Haresh Purabiya claimed 2 wickets for 16 runs.

Later, off-spinner Doshi played a significant role with the ball taking 2 wickets for just 9 runs as Sunder CC were restricted to 113 for 9 from their 20 overs. Aakash Palande top-scored with 29 runs while Doshi’s teammates Ahmed Shaikh 2 for 11 and Himanshu Choudhary 2 for 20 shared the wickets.

Brief scores: Navi Mumbai SA 134 for 9, 20 overs (Siddhant Doshi 72; Sachin Kumar 3/11, Haresh Purabiya 2/16) beat Sunder CC 113 for 9, 20 overs (Aakash Palande 29; Siddhant Doshi 2/9, Ahmed Shaikh 2/11, Himanshu Choudhary 2/20). Result: Navi Mumbai SA won by 21 runs.

The 79th edition of the prestigious WesternIndiaSlam, a Professional Squash Association (PSA) Challenger event commenced with great enthusiasm, drawing top National and International squash players to showcase their skills and sportsmanship. Hosted at the iconic Cricket Club of India (CCI) in Mumbai, the tournament features a USD 9,000 prize each for both the Men’s and Women’s categories, setting the stage for high-stakes competition and thrilling matches over the coming days.

As one of the most celebrated squash events in the country, the tournament has attracted over 700 participants across 21 categories, including juniors, seniors, and veterans. With a rich legacy spanning decades, the Western India Slam continues to play a pivotal role in promoting squash and nurturing budding talent in India.

The opening day featured exciting encounters with players showcasing agility, precision, and mental toughness on the court. Defending champions and emerging players alike are expected to deliver nail-biting matches in their quest for the title.

The finals are scheduled for Sunday 22^nd December, where the champions will be crowned, adding another chapter to this celebrated tournament’s history.

Sports enthusiasts and squash lovers are encouraged to attend and witness this extraordinary display of skill and determination.

 Important Results:

BU11 (Qualification): Aarush Sanghvi (9/16) bt Aryan Doshi 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 ; Agastya Uppal (5/8) bt Aarav Patodia 11-5 11-5 11-4

BU13 (Qualification): Mohan Shingwa bt Rahul Niraguda 11-4 11-6 9-11 5-11 11-2 ; Shourya Rakshit (9/16) bt Neev Shah 11-0 11-5 11-2

BU15 (Qualification): Arjun Parasrampuri bt Mitul Sharma 6-11 11-5 8-11 11-7 11-8 ; Anay Nayar (9/16) bt Mayur Niraguda 11-5 8-11 11-8 3-11 12-10

BU17 (Qualificaiton): Raghav Vashishtha (1) bt Dushyant Dubey 11-4 11-4 11-1 ; Naithik Chand bt Aarav Shah (9/16) 14-16 11-5 11-9 11-5

GU11 (Qualification): Naina Verma (9/16) bt  Krisha Sharma 8-11 11-8 11-4 11-3 ; Sanavi Tidke (1) bt Disha Thakur 11-0 11-2 11-2

GU13 (Qualification): Yogita Pardhi (9/16) bt Vihaa Makhecha 11-3 13-11 11-7

GU15 (Qualification): Aaravi Raina (9/16) bt Vinisha Shetty 11-4 11-5 11-6; Vedanshi Gupta (5/8) bt Samara Munshi 11-4 11-5 11-5

Ghatkopar YMCA rallied to beat Indian Gymkhana 57-35 in a Boys’ under-21 second round match of the NBA basketball tournament 2024, played under floodlights at the Late Bachoo Khan Municipal Playground, Nagpada, late Monday evening.

Indian Gymkhana showed a lot of promise at the start and enjoyed a 21-18 half-time advantage.

Ghatkopar YMCA came up with a strong second half performance to emerge victorious. Karan Dhilod 16 points and Ashsih Kanojia 11 points shot the baskets for te Ghatkopar team. For Indian Gymkhana Kevin Nadar 8 points and Yash Dongre 7 points found the hoop.

Earlier, in a girls’ under-14 second round encounter, St. Anthony’s cruised to a comfortable 38-14 win against Christ Church after leading 22-8 at the halfway stage.

St. Anthiny’s were well-served by sharpshooters Janhavi Burje and Jeel Jain both scoring 12 points each, while Shruti Padhi got 8 points. For Christ Church Ananya Mane scored 10 points.

Results – Girl’s U-14: St. Anthony’s (Janhavi Burje 12, Jeel Jain 12, Shruti Padhi 8) beat Christ Church (Ananya Mane 10) – 38-14 (HT: 22-8).

Boys’ U-21: Ghatkopar YMCA (Karan Dhilod 16, Ashsih Kanojia 11) beat Indian Gymkhana (Kevin Nadar 8, Yash Dongre 7) – 57-35 (HT: 18-21).

Aditi Jhaveri and Marianne Karmarkar combined well as a team and emerged champions in the Amla Ruia Women Pairs competition of the 66th Ashok Ruia Memorial National Bridge Championships being played at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune.

In the final league round, Jhaveri and Karmarkar won the title handsomely with a total of 73 imps at the end of 51 boards in the all-play – all finals played amongst 18 pairs to finish as the National women bridge champions.

In second place was the pair of Vasanti Shah (Mubai) and Gopika Tandon (Delhi) who finished way behind witj 64 imps. Alka M. Kshirsagar and Bharati Dey claimed the third position with a poor score of 43 imps.

Overnight leaders Asha Sharma and Puja Batra, both from Delhi finished in sixth position with 28 imps.

Rayaan Razmi clinched a grand double when he also won the senior billiards title. The tall lanky Razmi, who had earlier won the senior snooker title defeating World billiards champion Dhruv Sitwala 4-2 in the Senior Men’s billiards final of the Malabar Hill Club Maharashtra State Billiards & Snooker Championships 2024, played at the Malabar Hill Club billiards hall.

The talented cueist Razmi has now won seven Mahararashtra state titles – three in the junior category and four in the senior category.

Razmi played steadily and grabbed every opportunity that came his way and made it count to overcome the experienced and formidable opponent Sitawala with a degree of comfort.

Sitwala was not his usual self and he made too many errors and was unable to take control of the proceedings.

Rayaan for his showing produced multiple half century breaks to carve out a 150(66)-73(55), 61-151(81), 151(97)-147(139), 73-151(74,58), 152-134, 152(56,53)-67) win.

The champion Rayaan went home richer by Rs 40,000, while Sitwala received the runner-up cheque of Rs 20,000. The losing semi-finalists, Siddharth Parikh and Vishal Madan were presented with a cheque of Rs 10,000 each.

Results – Senior billiards (finals): Rayaan Razmi beat Druv Sitwala 4-2 (150(66)-73(55), 61-151(81), 151(97)-147(139), 73-151(74,58), 152-134, 152(56,53)-67).

For the first time the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is organizing a fair ‘The MCA Cric-Kit Fair 2024’ that will display cricket gear.

The MCA Cricket Equipment Fair 2024, is a two-day exhibition that brings together leading cricket equipment manufacturers from India and the cricketing community under one roof. The fair will be held at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, on December 13 and 14, 2024. The fair will be open from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm both days.

The exhibition will be inaugurated by Chief Guest, former Indian cricketer Paras Mhambrey, in the presence of Guest of Honour, Paul Murphy, Australian Consul General, on Friday, December 13 at 10.30 am.

The fair promises to be a unique platform for cricket enthusiasts and budding cricketers to explore the latest cricket equipment, avail of special discounts and promotions, and participate in interactive sessions, and Cricketing games.

MCA President, Ajinkya Naik, emphasised the importance of such fairs for young cricketers. “The MCA Cric-Kit Fair 2024 is a fantastic platform for aspiring cricketers to make informed choices about their gear in one convenient location. Choosing the right equipment at the right price is a crucial step in a player’s journey, and we are proud to facilitate this opportunity for our MCA cricketing community,” Naik mentioned in a release.

The MCA invites all players, coaches, and cricket lovers to take advantage of this initiative and be a part of this celebration of the sport.