SRFI PSA Challenger Tournament: Velavan Senthilkumar Starts Strong, Semwal and Shamina Exit Early

Mumbai, July 1: The SRFI PSA Challenger Tournament kicked off with a strong performance from top seed Velavan Senthilkumar, who secured a decisive victory on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Om Semwal faced an unexpected defeat.

Held at the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana Club, this tournament features a prize pool of $15,000. Senthilkumar dominated his match against Ayan Vaziralli, winning comfortably with scores of 11-4, 11-9, and 11-6. Fourth seed A. Hafeez and seventh seed T. Endo also advanced to the quarter-finals with straight-game victories.

On Tuesday, Semwal, who had previously upset the third seed, was on track for another surprise against Egypt’s eighth seed, Ziad Ibrahim. However, the 22-year-old stumbled in the final stages, losing a tightly contested match. Ibrahim triumphed with scores of 11-9, 11-13, 11-8, 8-11, and 11-9.

In the women’s quarter-finals, Shamina Riaz also faced disappointment, falling to Japan’s sixth seed, Akari Midorikawa, in four games. The Japanese player, with a 1-1 record entering the match, won with scores of 12-10, 11-8, 5-11, and 11-2.

Earlier on Tuesday, both Riaz and Semwal delivered thrilling upsets. Riaz defeated South Africa‘s top seed, Hayley Ward, in four games, while Semwal showcased remarkable discipline and skill, overcoming Brazil’s third seed, Diego Gobbi, in five games.

In other matches involving Indian players, third seed Tanvi Khanna defeated Pooja Aarti Raghu 3-0, while fifth seed Suraj Kumar Chand lost to Egypt’s Ziad Ibrahim in three games on Monday night.

Results:

Men’s Singles (Second Round) Results:
– Top seed Velavan Senthilkumar defeated Ayan Vaziralli 3-0 (11-4, 11-9, 11-6).
– Fourth seed A. Hafeez overcame A. Devan 3-0 (12-10, 11-3, 11-9).
– Seventh seed T. Endo (Japan) advanced by defeating R. Baitha 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-5).

Men’s Singles Quarter-Final Results:
– M. Syafiq Kamal (Malaysia) defeated S. Eltorgman (Egypt) 3-1 (11-7, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8).
– Eighth seed Ibrahim beat Om Semwal 3-2 (11-5, 11-13, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9).

Women’s Singles (Second Round) Results:
– Fourth seed N. Khafagi defeated S. Vats 3-1 (7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7).
– Fifth seed M. Fathi overcame A. Dubey 3-0 (12-10, 11-4, 11-6).
– Seventh seed R. Sugimoto defeated U. Tripathi 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 11-6).
– Second seed F. Walid defeated N. Dubey 3-0 (12-10, 11-8, 11-7).

Women’s Singles (Quarter-Final) Result:
– Sixth seed A. Midorikawa defeated S. Riaz 3-1 (12-10, 11-8, 5-11, 11-2).