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Indian Squash Teams Finish Fifth and Seventh at World Championships 2024

The Indian men’s squash team placed fifth at the World Squash Team Championships 2024 after defeating Hong Kong China, while the women’s team finished seventh with a victory over France. Key players included Velavan Senthilkumar and Abhay Singh for the men, and Akanksha Salunkhe and Anjali Semwal for the women. India has yet to win a medal at this championship.

The Indian men’s squash team secured a commendable fifth place at the World Squash Team Championships 2024 after a decisive 2-0 victory against the host nation, Hong Kong China, in the playoffs. The Indian women’s team finished their campaign in seventh place, narrowly defeating France with a score of 2-1 in their concluding match of the tournament.

In the men’s division, Velavan Senthilkumar showcased remarkable resilience, overcoming a deficit to triumph over world No. 44, Henry Leung, with a 3-2 score (12-10, 8-11, 5-11, 11-1, 11-8), putting India in the lead. Abhay Singh, ranked 54th globally, followed suit by delivering a dominant performance against world No. 40, Alex Lau, concluding the match with a 3-0 victory (12-10, 11-7, 11-4).

Previously, the Indian men’s team advanced to the knockout stage after finishing second in their group. They achieved a noteworthy victory against Malaysia to reach the quarterfinals; however, a defeat against France halted their pursuit of a medal. Nevertheless, securing a win over Germany in the playoffs ensured their opportunity to compete for fifth place.

Conversely, the Indian women’s team faced challenges to earn their seventh position. Akanksha Salunkhe delivered an impressive performance, defeating world No. 46, Marie Stephan, decisively at 3-0 (12-10, 11-9, 11-0), granting India an initial lead. Enora Villard equalized for France with a convincing victory over Nirupama Dubey, but Anjali Semwal clinched the final rubber by a close 3-2 score (6-11, 11-8, 5-11, 14-12, 11-7), securing victory for India.

The Indian women, having previously won two out of three group matches, reached the knockout round. Notably, they registered an upset against nine-time champions Australia in the pre-quarterfinals but eventually faced defeats from the United States in the quarterfinals and from former champions England in the fifth to eighth playoff, leading them into the seventh-eight placement match.

Historically, India has yet to secure a medal at the World Squash Team Championships, despite displaying commendable performances.

The World Squash Team Championships serve as a prestigious international competition that showcases the best national teams in squash. Participating countries compete across men’s and women’s divisions, and India has been striving to establish a stronger presence on this global stage. Indian teams historically have faced tough competition but have recently demonstrated growth and competitiveness. Performance metrics, such as individual rankings and match outcomes, play critical roles in assessing the viability of teams at these championships.

In summary, the Indian men finished fifth in the World Squash Team Championships 2024, showcasing a commendable performance, particularly with impactful contributions from Velavan Senthilkumar and Abhay Singh. Concurrently, the Indian women managed to secure seventh place after a narrow victory over France, with key performances from Akanksha Salunkhe and Anjali Semwal. Despite these achievements, India continues to pursue its first medal at this prestigious event, reflecting the ongoing challenges and aspirations of its squash teams.

Original Source: olympics.com

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