Sanya Vats: A Rising Star in Indian Squash
In a thrilling conclusion to the JSW Sunil Verma Memorial 2025 squash tournament, Indian squash player Sanya Vats emerged victorious, claiming her first-ever PSA title. But here's the twist: it wasn't just any win; it was a dominant performance against her compatriot, Nirupama Dubey.
Sanya Vats, a former junior national champion, showcased her skills and experience in the final, defeating Dubey in a one-sided affair with a scoreline of 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-4). This victory earned her the prestigious 11th Sunil Verma Memorial crown.
What's even more impressive is that this was Vats' maiden PSA crown, achieved in her very first appearance in a Challenger event final. And this is where it gets interesting; Vats had already made a statement in the semis, upsetting top seed Anjali Semwal with a convincing 3-0 win (11-3, 11-5, 11-7).
In the other top four clash, Dubey demonstrated her resilience by outlasting second seed Shameena Riaz in a grueling four-set battle (14-12, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8).
At just 24 years old, Sanya Vats has already achieved a U19 Asian Championships bronze medal in 2019 and is currently ranked 231st in the women's PSA squash rankings. Her performance at this tournament is a testament to her potential and determination.
In the men's division, French second seed Maceo Levy claimed the title with a straight-set victory over Egyptian top seed Yassin Elshafei. Meanwhile, India's Suraj Kumar Chand fell short in the semi-finals, losing to the eventual champion.
And here's a little teaser: Indian squash prodigy Anahat Singh, who has been making waves in the sport, didn't participate in this PSA Challenger tournament. But fear not, squash enthusiasts, as Singh will be back in action at the HCL Squash Indian Tour 4 tournament, starting in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on Monday.
So, what do you think? Is Sanya Vats a rising star in Indian squash? Will she continue her dominant performance in future tournaments? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
