World Squash Team Championships 2024: India Women Stun Record Champions Australia to Reach Quarter-Finals

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The Indian women's team stunned nine-time champions Australia to reach the quarterfinals of the World Squash Team Championships 2024 following a 2-1 victory in Hong Kong on Wednesday (December 11).

The Indian women's team success was spearheaded by Anahat Singh and Akanksha Salunkhe, who won their matches in straight games to help India reach the last eight of the competion for the first time in 12 years, as per Olympics.com.

Anahat, ranked world number 95 put up a brilliant performance against a higher-ranked opponent in Jessica Turnbull (62nd) to win 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-3), giving India a 1-0 lead in the tie.

Akanksha Salunkhe, 70th in squash rankings, solidified India's place in quarters with a 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-6) win against world No. 68 Alex Haydon to take the overall score to 2-0.

In the final match of the women's round of 16 between India and Australi, the 205th-ranked Nirupama Dubey fought valiantly against world number 83 Sarah Cadwell in the final match, but lost 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9).

India Men's Team Fightback to seal Quarter-Final spot

Later, the men's team, which is seeded 9th/12th, also reached the last eight after they overcame a 0-1 deficit to secure a 2-1 win against fifth-seeded Malaysia thanks to fine performances from Veer Chotrani and Velavan Senthilkumar, to make it to the quarterfinals.

Abhay Singh, lost his opening match of the tie to world number 13, Eain Yow Ng 3-0 (13-11, 11-9, 11-5) in 40 minutes, allowing the Malaysians to take a 1-0 lead in the contest.

However, Chotrani, ranked 87th in men's rankings, helped India get back in the match with a terrific straight games win against world No. 108 Mohammad Syafiq Kamal by 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-5) in 25 minutes before Senthilkumar sealed the tie with a 3-1 (11-8, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4) victory against Sanjay Jeeva.

When is the World Squash Team Championships 2024 Quarter-Final Match?

In the quarterfinals, the Indian men's team will take on France, who defeated South Africa 2-0 in their pre-quarters, while the women's team will face USA in the final eight with matches scheduled to take place on Thursday (December 12).