SQUASH WORLD CUP | India blanks South Africa, to meet Egypt in semis

Second seed India swept South Africa 3-0 to cruise into the semifinals of the SDAT–World Cup Squash at the Express Mall here on Friday. India will now meet Egypt, which eased past Australia 3-0, while Hong Kong takes on Japan in the other semifinal.

The host delivered a performance befitting a title contender, marked by clear strategy and exceptional confidence.

Joshna Chinappa gave India the perfect start with a straight-game win over Teagan Russel. The match was played largely in the front court, and Joshna’s superior touch, pace variation, and finish ensured that the world No. 203 South African never settled. The 39-year-old, ranked 79, dominated proceedings from start to finish.

India’s top men’s player Abhay Singh made it 2-0 with a commanding win over Dewald Van Niekerk. Except for the second game where Dewald found good depth and briefly put up a challenge, Abhay controlled the tempo, playing deep and forcing errors through relentless pressure.

India’s rising star and No. 1 player Anahat Singh applied the finishing touches, sealing a straight-game win over Proteas No. 1 Hayley Ward.

Egypt, the defending champion, entered the semifinals as the fifth seed, having arrived with a developmental squad rather than its top-ranked players. Still, with the current bunch inside the world’s top 100 and having a deep, well-structured talent pipeline, Egypt remains a dangerous opponent. India will be aware that the semifinal will demand its best and nothing else.

Earlier, Japan advanced ahead of Malaysia by virtue of winning more games (9 to 8) after both teams finished level on two points each.

The results (quarterfinals): Hong Kong bt Switzerland 3-0 (Ka Yi Lee bt Stella Kaufmann 7-1, 7-4, 7-4; Taz Kwan Lau bt Louai Hefez 7-3, 7-6, 7-5; Ho Tomato Tze-Lok bt Celine Walser 7-2, 7-3, 7-4).  

Japan drew with Malaysia 2-2 (Akari Midorikawa lost to Aifa Azman 1-7, 5-7, 7-5, 7-4, 4-7; Ryunosuke Tsukue bt Ameeshenraj Chandran 7-3, 7-6, 4-7, 2-7, 7-4; Satomi Watanabe bt Aira Azman 7-2, 7-4, 7-4; Tomotaka Endo lost to Mohammad Syafiq Mohd Kamal 6-7, 4-7, 7-3, 3-7).  

Egypt bt Australia 3-0 (Nardine Garas bt Madison Lyon 7-3, 7-0, 7-2; Adam Hawal bt Joseph White 7-4, 7-4, 7-3; Nour Heikal bt Jessica Turnbull 7-3, 7-1, 7-3).

India bt South Africa 3-0 (Joshna Chinappa bt Teagan Russel 7-4, 7-4, 7-2; Abhay Singh bt Dewald Van Niekerk 7-1, 7-6, 7-1; Anahat Singh bt Hayley Ward 7-3, 7-3, 7-4).