The women’s draw at the Daly College SRFI Indian Open delivered a day of high-quality squash, strong performances from India’s top contenders, and a few spirited challenges that pushed seeded players to elevate their game.
With three Indian women advancing to the quarterfinals including veteran star Joshna Chinappa, top seed Anahat Singh, and national No.2 Tanvi Khanna the host nation ended the round on a commanding note.
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India’s evergreen icon Joshna Chinappa produced one of the standout performances of the day, coming from a game down to defeat France’s fourth seed Lauren Baltayan 3–1 (6–11, 11–6, 11–7, 11–2). Baltayan, ranked No.66 and widely considered one of the brightest young talents in European squash, started strongly by taking the first game as Joshna struggled to adjust to her pace and attacking intent.
But the Indian veteran’s experience soon came to the fore. Joshna tightened her length in the second game, began stepping forward earlier on the volley, and flipped the momentum with an 11–6 response. From there, she dictated the tempo of the match with clean lines, sharp drops, and intelligent court positioning.
By the fourth game, the contest had swung decisively in her favour. Joshna accelerated through rallies, forced errors from Baltayan, and closed out the match in just 42 minutes. The win marks another significant milestone for the former World No.10, who continues to show remarkable longevity on the PSA Tour.
Anahat Singh Cruises Into the Last Eight
Top seed and India’s teenage sensation Anahat Singh delivered a ruthless display in her R16 match, overpowering compatriot Pooja Arthi Raghu 3–0 (11–2, 11–3, 11–2) in just 16 minutes. With her trademark quick hands and energetic movement, Anahat controlled every exchange, finding her corners early and giving her opponent little breathing space.
Still only 16, Anahat has already established herself as one of the most exciting prospects in global squash. Her performance on Wednesday reaffirmed her rising stature; clinical, fearless, and efficient. The teenager’s blend of attacking flair and tactical discipline makes her a formidable contender as the event moves toward its decisive stages.
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India’s No.2 Tanvi Khanna also impressed, making short work of fellow Indian Unnati Tripathi with a dominant 3–0 win (11–1, 11–8, 11–4). Tanvi opened with a blistering 11–1 game, showcasing tight lines and authoritative volleys. Although Unnati steadied herself in the second, Tanvi’s consistency and precision allowed her to control the key exchanges.
The 18-minute win keeps Tanvi’s strong season on track. With her growing confidence and maturity on court, she emerges as a real threat to the foreign seeds in the later rounds.
Mixed Results for the Rest of the Indian Contingent
While three Indian women advanced, the day also brought several defeats:
Anika Dubey fought gamely against Ireland’s third seed Hannah Craig, taking a game off the higher-ranked player before falling 1–3 (4–11, 1–11, 11–8, 11–8).
Rathika Suthanthira Seelan similarly challenged No.5 seed Nga Ching Cheng, taking a game in a spirited 1–3 loss (3–11, 4–11, 9–11, 11–5).
Both players showed promising patches of dominance but couldn’t sustain the pressure against more seasoned opponents.
Seeds Progress Smoothly Elsewhere
The rest of the women’s draw saw the top seeds maintain control:
Hannah Craig (IRL) moved into the quarterfinals after a solid 3–1 win over Anika Dubey. Nga Ching Cheng (HKG) overcame a brief dip in the third game before securing her 3–1 win over Rathika. German eighth seed Katerina Tycova won a competitive four-game battle against Poland’s Karina Tyma, taking it 3–1 (11–7, 9–11, 12–10, 11–4). Spain’s Sofía Mateos, the seventh seed, controlled her match against Colette Sultana to post a 3–1 victory.
Second seed Nadien Elhammamy of Egypt produced a composed performance, winning 3–0 (11–5, 11–4, 11–8) over Zoe Foo of Malaysia. With seven of the eight seeded players advancing—Joshna’s win over Baltayan being the only upset the draw is now set for a high-intensity quarterfinal lineup.
India Well-Positioned Heading Into Quarterfinals
For India, the story of the day is one of strength at the top. Joshna’s experience, Tanvi’s consistency, and Anahat’s precocious brilliance ensure the host nation remains deeply embedded in the business end of the draw. All three players have shown contrasting but equally encouraging form as they now prepare for significantly tougher challenges in the quarterfinals.
The women’s quarterfinals of the Daly College SRFI Indian Open begin on Thursday, November 20 at 4 PM IST, broadcast live on SQUASHTV. With the mix of youth, experience, and strong seeding on both sides of the draw, fans can expect a gripping day of squash.
