Velavan and Joshna clinch doubles titles at National Squash Championships

Velavan Senthilkumar and Joshna Chinappa dominated the 3rd National Doubles Squash Championships in Chennai, winning the mixed doubles crown together after securing men’s and women’s doubles titles with their partners

Chennai: Velavan Senthilkumar and Joshna Chinappa recorded a ‘double’ each in the 3rd National Doubles Squash Championships in Chennai on Saturday, clinching the mixed doubles title together after bagging the men’s and women’s doubles crowns with their respective partners.

Senthilkumar-Joshna, the top seeds, defeated second-seeded Abhay Singh-Rathika Seelan 11-7, 11-9 in a keenly contested final at the Indian Squash Academy.

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Earlier, Abhay and Senthilkumar, the top seeds, won the men’s doubles crown for a third straight year by beating second-seeded Rahul Baitha-Suraj Kumar Chand 11-8, 11-5 in the title round.

In the day’s first match, top seeds Joshna-Rathika beat Janet Vidhi-Pooja Arthi 11-8, 11-4 in the women’s doubles final.

On Friday, defending men’s doubles champions Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar delivered a strong performance to reach the final, securing a decisive 11-1, 11-6 victory over Ravi Dixit and Vikas Mehra in the semifinals.

The top-seeded pair made very few mistakes during the one-sided match, controlling rallies from the start with sharp attacking shots and quick movement. They set up a clash against second seeds Rahul Baitha and Suraj Kumar Chand, who overcame Guhan Senthilkumar and Sandhesh PR 11-8, 11-7 in the other semifinal.

In mixed doubles, Senthilkumar and Joshna booked their place in the final by defeating Rahul Baitha and Anika Dubey 11-6, 11-9 in a tight semifinal. In the other semifinal, Abhay Singh and Rathika Seelan narrowly beat Suraj Kumar Chand and Nirupama Dubey 12-10, 11-7 to reach the title match.