Mumbai: Two Indian freshers on the PSA World Championships entered one in every of squash’s most prestigious tournaments wanting to soak within the expertise. Each walked away from their first outing knocking out two world No.28s.
India’s 17-year-old squash participant Anahat Singh, who has entered the ladies’s singles Spherical 2 on the world championships in Chicago. (HT Picture)
Anahat Singh, ranked 62, and Veer Chotrani, ranked 57, had debuts to cherish as they upset American Marina Stefanoni and Englishman Declan James, respectively, to advance to the second spherical.
Two extra Indians joined them from the 5 in Chicago, with world No.38 Abhay Singh overcoming world No.25 Nicolas Mueller of Switzerland and India’s top-ranked Ramit Tandon getting previous Japanese Ryunosuke Tsukue. Velavan Senthilkumar, one other debutant, additionally had a shiny begin in opposition to defending champion and world No.3 Diego Elias earlier than shedding in 4 video games (11-7, 7-11, 5-11, 3-11).
Chotrani was practically stretched to a deciding fifth recreation, with former world No.15 and 2022 Commonwealth Video games doubles gold medallist James saving 4 match factors. On the fifth time of asking, the Indian got here by way of 11-9, 11th of September, 12-10, 16-14.
Mumbai’s Chotrani, whose father Manish is a former nationwide squash champion, graduated from Cornell College. The 23-year-old has had a gentle rise on this planet rankings from being exterior the highest 100 final yr.
Like Anahat, Chotrani earned a spot on the Worlds by profitable the Asian qualifying occasion final month. Catching up throughout coaching in New York earlier than flying to Chicago, skilled compatriot Tandon advised the male Indian debutants to show up with a free thoughts for his or her first Worlds gig.
For Chotrani that performed a giant function, as did the idea.
“Last week I didn’t have that belief that I could win against the top 20-25 guys. Today I just went into the match telling myself that I have nothing to lose, (to) play freely without any pressure and enjoy it,” Chotrani advised PSA after the win.
Anahat, 17, was two video games to 1 down in opposition to the 22-year-old American, who’s greater ranked and likewise extra skilled. The Indian teen although stored her composure and turned issues round for the 3-2 (10-12, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6) victory.
That is the primary actual style of the very best degree {of professional} squash for Anahat, who’s had a shiny junior profession and a dominant run on the decrease rung PSA occasions. The teen, hardly surprisingly, was “exhausted” after the tussle that lasted practically an hour.
“We had really long rallies and she’s a great player. I’ve seen her play in the last few tournaments. She’s been playing really well and she’s broken into the top 30, so I knew it was going to be a battle,” Anahat advised PSA. “I’m really happy I was able to get through it.”
Additionally getting by way of for his first win on the Worlds was Abhay, who disregarded a second-game blip in opposition to the twenty second seed Mueller to win 3-1 (11-7, 2-11, 11-7, 11-6). The 26-year-old, who has damaged into the highest 50 this yr and sits at a career-high world No.38, had misplaced within the opening spherical of the 2023 Worlds and sat out injured final yr.
India No.1 and world No.34 Tandon overcame a sluggish begin in opposition to the difficult Tsukue, ranked 50, in his 3-1 (10-12, 11-7, 13-11, 11-7) opening win.
The highway will get a lot steeper for the Indians after the superb begin. Tandon faces world No.7 Marwan Elshorbagy within the Spherical of 32, whereas Abhay will tackle Thirteenth-ranked Egyptian Youssef Ibrahim. Anahat performs fellow teen Fayrouz Aboelkheir of Egypt, ranked fifteenth. Chotrani will entrance up with four-time champion and prime seeded Egyptian Ali Farag.
“It doesn’t get bigger,” Chotrani mentioned.