Anahat, Tanvi set up Indian clash; Abhay, Veer also advance

India’s squash campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games gained momentum as Anahat Singh, Tanvi Khanna, Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani reached the singles quarterfinals. Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar also advanced to the mixed doubles last eight

Nagoya: India enjoyed a productive day on the squash courts at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games here on Thursday, with Anahat Singh, Tanvi Khanna, Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani advancing to the singles quarterfinals, while Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar also made the mixed doubles last eight.

Junior world champion and medal favourite Anahat began her women’s singles campaign with a 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-7) win over Singapore’s Wai Iynn Au Yeong in just 19 minutes.

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Tanvi then joined her teenage compatriot in the quarterfinals after beating Singapore’s Wai Yhann Au Yeong 3-1 (5-11, 11-4, 11-5, 13-11) in 39 minutes.

The results set up an all-Indian women’s singles quarterfinal between Anahat and Tanvi.

Unlike the last edition, semifinalists are not assured of a medal in the squash singles competition.

There will be a third-fourth classification match between the two losing semifinalists for the bronze medal.

In the men’s singles, Abhay Singh produced a commanding display to beat Sri Lanka’s Ravindu Laksiri 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-0) in 25 minutes.

Abhay will face local favourite Ryunosuke in the quarterfinals.

However, Veer survived a scare, overcoming Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeeva to prevail 3-2 (11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 15-17, 11-6) in a one-hour-nine-minute battle.

Veer will face Pakistan’s Irfan Muhammad in the quarterfinals.

Earlier in the day, veteran Joshna and Velavan advanced after beating fellow Indians Suraj Chand and Shameena Riaz in straight games.

The Asian Championships bronze-medal-winning Indian pair defeated Suraj and Shameena 11-7, 11-10 in the all-Indian last-16 clash.

The Indian duo will next face the Philippines’ David Pelino and Jemyca Aribado in the quarterfinals on Friday.