Velavan Senthilkumar, National squash champion ends his journey in the quarterfinals of the German Open Squash tournament in Hamburg after an impressive display of skill in the initial rounds.
Velavan Senthilkumar impresses with a strong performance
Senthilkumar, a 2023 Asian silver medallist and world no. 59, started his campaign on a high note. In the first round, he faced off against Yassin Elshafei of Egypt. Despite losing the first two games, Senthilkumar made a remarkable comeback to win the match 6-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-9 in 62 minutes.
In the second round, Senthilkumar continued his impressive form against the eighth seed George Parker of England. Displaying consistency and determination, he secured an 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9 victory over Parker in 61 minutes. This win propelled him into the quarterfinals, marking a significant achievement in the tournament.
However, the quarterfinals presented a formidable challenge in the form of the higher-ranked Eain Yow Ng of Malaysia. The Malaysian fourth seed, who holds a 3-0 head-to-head record against Senthilkumar in PSA events, proved to be a tough opponent.
The first game saw both players stay close in scoring. A forehand drive from Yow Ng that died in the back right corner pushed the game to 4-5. From there, Yow Ng took control of the game, eventually winning it 11-7.
In the second and third games, Senthilkumar struggled to maintain his form, leaking errors that resulted in a straight-game loss. He lost the match 7-11, 6-11, 4-11 to Yow Ng, marking the end of his journey in the German Open.
A rally worthy of a roar 🔥@EaiNYow and Velavan Senthilkumar going toe-to-toe in the early stages of their quarter-final bout 👊#GermanOpen pic.twitter.com/MzE2AmHdtY
— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) April 5, 2024
Despite the defeat, Senthilkumar’s performance in the tournament was commendable. His victories against higher-ranked opponents showcased his potential and skill. His journey in the German Open serves as a testament to his talent and promises a bright future in the sport.
Reflecting on the match, Yow Ng acknowledged the close competition between them. He noted that Senthilkumar often upsets a few players to get to him and that their matches are getting tougher each time. Yow Ng also expressed his happiness at getting through in three games.
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