Velvan Senthilkumar (Image – X)

New Delhi: On Thursday, the motley crowd inside the squash hall of Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium contained the top seed Abhay Singh firmly for Abhay Singh to add another national title to his kitty. But other seeds Velvan Senthilkumar had other plans. Facing his perennial rival in the men’s singles final, the men showcased skills and mental cruelty to re-achieve national glory with a victory of 11-8, 11–9, 4–11, 11-8 at the HCL National Squash Championships here. Velvan avenged his defeat in the last final, winning his second national title after his victory in 2023. The championship match was more than a racket competition. It was the story of flexibility and strategic mastery. Velvan, who entered as a challenger, saw the intention of learning from the earlier failures against defending champion Abhay. The first two games were fought intensely, but both ended in favor of Velvan, thanks to their clinical finishing and strategic use of court angles. Abhay adopted the third game 11–4, but Velvan again organized, dominating the fourth game important for the title. Velvan told TOI after the match, “Every time we play, it is different. He (Abhay) has been a good year. So today was a mental fight. I just had to stay in rallies and push. The difference was,” Velvan told TOI after the match. “I was just focusing on every point. I did not focus on the result or anything peripheral. He said that I was trying to focus on it which I could control and just give everything for the point I was playing, “he said. Velvan is famous for its aggressive, attacking style, marked with agility and accuracy. In court, she combines quick footwork with powerful, well -placed shots. His left -arm drama provides a different edge, allowing him to take advantage of unusual angles that guess opponents. Velvan’s gameplay is also strategic. His approach is a mixture of calculated risks and tireless court coverage, wearing opponents with both speed and stamina. National title hat -trick for Anahat India’s top ranked female squash player Anahat Singh won her third gradual national title, defeating second seed Akanka Salunke 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 to the final. Salunke reduced the legend Joshna Chinappa In the semi -finals. The 17-year-old Anahat was the best dominance in his day, with his drama marked by shot placements, subtle, deceptive-tested drop shots and luxurious strategic awareness commanding.

Mohammed Shami has a delivery during a Dilip Trophy 2025 (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

Bengaluru: Mohammed Shami It is barely a week away from its 35th birthday and is much slower than once, but does not fire within the fire. There is neither austerity to fight. Call it one day in recent times with many of his magnificent colleagues, Shami There have been not many sub-signs to walk in sunset. But the premiere fast bowler is not yet throwing in the towel, and as he repeated a few days ago, “I will leave the day I get bored. You don’t pick me up, don’t pick me up, don’t play me, I don’t care. But I will keep working hard.” Possibly one of India’s finest pace-bouncing exporters, Shami focused on the 2027 50 over World Cup. Mentally, he is there. The question is, will his body be caught? His final presence in the ODI format was, finally, earlier this year was in the final of the Champions Trophy in Dubai in March. Playing in its first competitive red-ball game since November 2024, Bengal Pesar was slow, but there was no rust in the Duleep Trophy tie between the east and the north region. BCCI The center of excellence here on Thursday. He bowled 17 overs spread over four mantras, focusing more on accuracy rather than speed, on a surface that offered considerable bounce but slightly seam movement.

He was effective, but was not severe, watching mainly to test his horrified body. In his first magic of five overs, his INSWINES harassed with a good length-Solemy batsmen Shubam Khajuria and Ankit Kumar, especially when the next magic of their three overs was rather uneven, took some edges to the right foot. After lunch, shami switched ends and gears. He assessed the conditions for his satisfaction, and his third mantra of 4–2–9–0 was the best of the day. Shami was investigating more, as he excluded Ayush Badoni and Yash Dhul in the corridor. He finally hit a late delivery in the day that sent Sahil Lotra back. Shami continued the investigation line and in the 70th over, Lotra offered a thick edge to wicketkeeper Kumar Kushagra. For Kushagra, this catch was redemption, which had earlier dropped Kanhaiya Wadhawan from Shami. To ensure an early end with rain, it will be interesting to see how Shami and his new ball companion Mukesh KumarWhich went out for nine overs due to a moist, renting on a moist surface.

Pusarla Venkat Sindhu of Team India (Photo by Michael Reeves/Getty Image)

PV SindhuWho struggled to find his rhythm in the first two rounds, hit the top form on Thursday. The 2019 world champion looked completely under control as he dismissed the second seed Wang Zee Yi of Chinese directly in the Games and entered the Women’s Single Quarterfinals at the BWF World Championship in Paris. Now ranked at number 15 in the world, Sindhu surprised one of the best win in recent times to the two-time Asian Champion 21-19, 21-15 in 48 minutes. Apart from this, making the last-eight phases Indian mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tha. Tanisha krastoHe won a sensational victory against the fifth seeds Tang Chun Man and Hong Kong China’s Tse Ying Sue, 19-21, 21-12, 21-15. These wins gave great pleasure in the Indian camp after the disadvantage of heart breaking HS Pranoy On Wednesday night. Indian veteran failed to capitalize on two match points before going down against Anders Antonson of Denmark, rank number no. 2. 2023 World Championship Bronze-Medlist fought about an hour and half slowly before losing 8-21, 21–17, 21-23. The fourth day of the competition was definitely of Indus. The five-time World Championship medalist began at a high and entered the first mid-game brake with a five-point lead (11–6). The 25-year-old Chinese jumped back and increased by 19–17. Tall Hyderabadi showed his flexibility and re-closed the gradual points to achieve the game at 21–19. In the second game, 30-year-old Sindhu did not allow Chinese to take an early lead as she enjoyed the scorline for the break. Wang held four straight points to make a strong recovery. Subsequently, Sindhu dominated her opponent to close the game at 21–15. A marathon 57-shot rally tested the Indus, but gained control with a decisive attack game. Sindhu will shut the horns with Indonesia’s world number 9 daughter Kusuma Wildoni on Friday. Sindhu faced her four times and won twice. Sindhu is now just one win from achieving record-Sayan Sixth World Championship Medal. Sindhu said after the match, “When I stepped into court, she was like any other player for me. I knew that it was not easy from round one in the World Championship. You would have to fight for every point, every rally. I wanted to give 100 percent,” Sindhu said after the match. “Of course, Wang is a very good athlete, but it was not in my mind. I just had to be consistent and keep the shuttle inside, ”said Sindhu. Sindhu thus raised her remarkable record 8–0 against Chinese shuttlers in the world, first Wang Yihan (2013), Wang Shiksian (2014), Li Zueerui (2015), Sun You (2017) and Chen Youfei (2017 and 2019). “This is just one match for me at a time. I need to be very strong tomorrow, and be ready for everything,” he said. In the mixed doubles, Dhruv and Kapila re -organized with confidence after accepting the initial game. He dominated the second game and took the speed to decider. The big victory has now set up a high-handed quarterfinal clash against Malaysia’s fourth seeded Chen Tang Ji and toh E Wei. Tanisha said, “We had a thick run a few months ago. I think we are building together, step by step.” We were better prepared this time. We did not give up at any point in the match. Even after losing the first game, we did not let it go to us. We fought even more difficult battle in the second and third, “Tanisha said.