Menna walid

Karnataka State Squash Racquet Association: India’s Suraj Kumar Chand and Anjali Semwal kept the home flag flying at the Squash Indian Tour 3, a PSA Challenger event, by storming into the semifinals after strong quarterfinal victories in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Second seed Suraj produced a commanding performance in the men’s draw, brushing aside fifth seed Sebastiaan Hofman of the Netherlands 11-2, 11-6, 11-4 in just 27 minutes. Dominant from the outset, the Indian hardly allowed Hofman any momentum, mixing sharp length with clinical finishing to book his place in the last four. Suraj will face Egypt’s Omar El Torkay in Monday’s semifinal, a clash expected to test his consistency against one of the most skillful players in the draw.

In the women’s section, fourth seed Anjali Semwal showed both grit and flair to oust Malaysia’s Rui Jean Yek 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-2 in 33 minutes. After being pushed into a four-game battle, Anjali raised her intensity in the third and fourth games, using precise drop shots and quick movement to outmaneuver her opponent. The Indian will now take on another Malaysian, Harleein Tan, for a spot in the final.