SRFI Indian Open: Velavan Stuns Sixth Seed as Mixed Day for Indian Men in Indore

The Daly College SRFI Indian Open produced a dramatic second day of action in Indore, particularly in the men’s draw where India experienced a blend of spectacular highs and tough exits.

The standout moment came from India’s No.3 Velavan Senthilkumar, who delivered one of the biggest wins of his career by knocking out No.6 seed Bernat Jaume in straight games, setting the tone for an otherwise challenging day for the home contingent.

In what was the performance of the day, 27-year-old Velavan Senthilkumar rose to the occasion on the glass court against Spain’s Bernat Jaume, ranked 14 places above him at World No.33. Coming into the match after the disappointment of Abhay Singh’s defeat earlier in the evening, Velavan ensured the home fans had reason to celebrate. He controlled the opening game confidently, never trailing before closing it out 11–8. The intensity elevated in the second game as Jaume earned two game balls at 10–8. But Velavan, fuelled by the roaring Indore crowd, stitched together four straight points to steal the game 12–10 and take a commanding 2–0 lead.

That comeback seemed to deflate the Spaniard completely. Velavan came out firing in the third, racing ahead 9–1 in under five minutes with his trademark speed and crisp volleying. Jaume could find no answers, and a tin on match ball handed Velavan a 3–0 (11–8, 12–10, 11–4) victory and a place in the quarterfinals.

The win caps an important moment for Senthilkumar, who has been steadily climbing the rankings and now adds a top-35 scalp to his growing resume.

Ramit Tandon Battles Through to the Quarterfinals

India’s No.2 Ramit Tandon ensured at least two Indians progressed to the last eight with a gritty win over England’s Samuel Osborne-Wylde. In a 59-minute contest marked by long rallies and tactical exchanges, Tandon held his nerve when it mattered most.

He edged the first game 12–10, lost some momentum in the second, but recovered strongly with his deceptive hold and soft-touch winners in the front court. Closing out the match 3–1 (12–10, 8–11, 11–8, 11–8), Tandon showed the maturity and composure expected from a top-50 player.

Earlier in the day, India’s No.1 and fifth seed Abhay Singh suffered a disappointing exit at the hands of Switzerland’s Yannick Wilhelmi. Singh, fresh off a career-high world ranking of 26, could not find his usual rhythm as the Swiss player dominated the backhand exchanges with precision and relentlessness. Wilhelmi’s accuracy, especially down the left wall, kept Singh under constant pressure and forced errors. In just 38 minutes, the Swiss secured a commanding 3–0 win (11–3, 11–3, 11–7), ending Singh’s campaign earlier than expected.

Other Indian Results: A Tough Round for the Host Nation

Beyond the wins for Velavan and Ramit, it was a difficult day for the rest of the Indian men’s contingent:

• Veer Chotrani produced a spirited start against top seed Youssef Soliman but eventually lost 1–3 (11–9, 9–11, 11–3, 11–6).
• Suraj Kumar Chand bowed out after a competitive opening game against France’s Sebastien Bonmalais, who won 3–1 (10–12, 11–4, 11–1, 11–7).
• Abhay Singh, as noted, exited 0–3.

With these results, only two Indian men Velavan Senthilkumar and Ramit Tandon remain in contention going into the quarterfinals.

Seeds Hold Firm Elsewhere

The rest of the men’s draw saw the higher seeds advance largely without drama:

• No.1 seed Youssef Soliman (Egypt) was clinical in his 3–1 victory over Veer Chotrani.
• No.2 seed Eain Yow Ng (Malaysia) progressed smoothly with a straight-games win over Colombia’s Matias Knudsen.
• Egyptian youngster Mohamad Zakaria, the third seed, continued his impressive form with a 3–0 win over David Bernet.
• Eighth seed Yahya Elnawasany also cruised past Hong Kong’s Matthew Lai in straight games.

With three Egyptians, one Malaysian, one Swiss, one Frenchman, and two Indians progressing, the quarterfinal lineup promises a strong mix of styles and intense matchups.

What Comes Next

The quarterfinals of the Daly College SRFI Indian Open begin at 4 PM IST on Thursday, November 20, streaming live on SQUASHTV.

With Velavan riding high and Ramit showing resilience, the host nation will hope this momentum can carry at least one Indian into the semifinals of this PSA World Tour Bronze event.