Velavan Senthilkumar clinches maiden title at Senior National Squash Championships

Published at :November 23, 2023 at 7:32 PM

Modified at :January 14, 2024 at 1:14 AM

(Courtesy : The Statesman)

The 22-year-old from Tamil Nadu overcame Abhay Singh in a thrilling three-game final.

Velavan Senthilkumar, the 25-year-old squash prodigy from Salem, Tamil Nadu, lifted his maiden men’s singles title at the 79th National Squash Championships, held at the Indian Squash and Triathlon Academy (ISTA) in Chennai on Thursday (November 23rd). He defeated compatriot Abhay Singh in a gripping three-game final that lasted 45 minutes.

The final was a battle of nerves and skill, as both players displayed their best squash. Velavan, who is currently ranked No. 65 in the world, had a slight edge over Abhay, who is ranked No. 63. The first game was a close affair, with both players exchanging points and leads. Velavan was up 10-9 when Abhay saved a game point to level the score at 10-10. However, Velavan held his nerve and won the next two points to take the opener 12-10.

The following game saw Abhay suffer a setback, as he had to retire briefly due to a physical discomfort. He resumed the game after a medical timeout, but Velavan did not let him settle and raced to an 11-3 win. The decider was the most exciting one, as Abhay fought back from a 4-8 deficit to lead 10-8 and have two game points.

Velavan, however, showed his resilience and saved both the game points to make it 10-all. He then won the next two points to seal the match and the title. The athlete from Salem who trains at the Indian Squash Academy under national coach Cyrus Poncha, expressed his delight at winning his first national title and thanked his coach, family, and sponsors for their support.

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The youngster who started playing squash at the age of eight, has been one of the most promising talents in Indian squash. He has won several national and international titles in the junior circuit, including the British Junior Open Under-19 title in 2017. He also represented India at the World Junior Championships in 2016 and 2017, reaching the quarterfinals in both editions.

Velavan, who idolizes Egyptian squash legend Ramy Ashour, said that his aim is to break into the top 50 in the world rankings and win more titles for India. Ramy Ashour serves as his esteemed role model and a source of inspiration. His style has illuminated the essence of playing squash with flair and passion. he is determined to emulate his path, striving to bring honor to India

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