Anahat Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar Shine at HCL National Squash Championships 2023

New Delhi, Aug 28 (PTI) - Dominating the HCL National Squash Championships, top seed Anahat Singh secured her third consecutive title with a decisive victory over Akansha Salunkhe, while Velavan Senthilkumar reclaimed his national crown by defeating the defending champion Abhay Singh in a thrilling encounter on Thursday.

The 17-year-old Anahat, who stands as India's highest-ranked female player globally, completed a perfect run with scores of 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 against second seed Salunkhe. Salunkhe earned her place in the final by overcoming veteran Joshna Chinappa in a challenging semifinal match.

After finishing as a runner-up in 2022, Anahat has now topped the following three editions, clearly establishing her dominance in India.

In the men's championship clash, Velavan Senthilkumar triumphed over Abhay Singh with scores of 11-8, 11-9, 4-11, 11-8, reclaiming the prestigious national title.

This victory marked Velavan's second national title following his initial win in 2023, and it came with a sweet taste of revenge as he had suffered defeats against Abhay in the previous two finals.

The tournament unfolded at the iconic Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, situated in the heart of Delhi. Notably, it was the first time in seven years that the national capital played host to this premier domestic squash event.

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