Squash World Cup | India proves too good for Brazil, tops pool

Already assured of a place in the last-eight, India topped Pool-B with eight points after a comfortable 4-0 win over debutant Brazil in its final league match of the Squash World Cup at the Express Avenue Mall here on Thursday.

National champion Velavan Senthilkumar, rising star Anahat Singh, and India No.1 Abhay Singh registered straight-game victories. The fourth rubber, involving Joshna Chinappa and Bruna Marchesi Petrillo, was awarded to India after the Brazilian failed to reach Chennai due to visa issues.

India will now face South Africa, which delivered one of the most spirited performances of the day against top seed Hong Kong. Although the tie ended 2-2, the spotlight firmly rested on the South Africans.

The tone was set by Damian Groenwald, ranked 97 places below Hong Kong’s Henry Leung (54), as he produced a brilliant, career-defining performance to claim the opening match. Hong Kong drew level through reigning Asian champion Ho Tze-Lok, who overcame Hayley Ward 7-2, 7-4, 6-7, 7-1.

With Hong Kong’s spearhead and reigning Asian champion Lau Tsz Kwan stepping onto court to face Dewald van Niekerk, the expectation was for a routine win. But the 69th-ranked South African stunned Kwan (World rank 42) in a gripping five-game contest.

However, Hong Kong ensured there weren’t any more upsets as Ka Yi Lee defeated Teagan Russell in straight games, 7-1, 7-2, 7-1, ensuring the fancied outfit finished with a victory and levelled the tie.

The results: Pool-A: Hong Kong drew with South Africa 2-2 (Henry Leung lost to Damian Groenwald 1-7, 5-7, 2-7; Ho Tomato Tsz-Lok bt Hayley Ward 7-2, 7-4, 6-7, 7-1; Tsz Kwan Lau lost to Dewald van Niekerk 3-7, 7-3, 6-7, 7-3, 6-7; Ka Yi Lee bt Teagan Russell 7-1, 7-2, 7-1).

Pool-B: India bt Brazil 4-0 (Velavan Senthilkumar bt Pedro Mometto 7-5, 7-2, 7-2; Anahat Singh bt Laura Souza Bezerra Da Silva 7-4, 7-0, 7-2; Abhay Singh bt Diego Gobbi 7-3, 7-1, 7-1; Joshna Chinappa w/o Bruna Marchesi Petrillo).

Pool-C: Malaysia bt Australia 3-1 (Mohammad Syafiq Kamal bt Dylan Molinaro 7-4, 6-7, 7-6, 7-4; Aira Azman bt Jessica Tumbuli 7-2, 7-4, 7-3; Ameeshenraj Chandran lost to Joseph White 5-7, 5-7, 7-3, 4-7; Aifa Azman bt Madison Lyon 7-0, 7-0, 7-0).