The top seeds Viktor Byrtus and Akanksha Salunkhe scored hard-fought 3-2 wins in the men’s and women’s semi-final competitions of the 79th Western India Slam, a USD 9,000 prize-money Professional Squash Association (PSA) Challenger event and played at the CCI courts.
The Czech number one Byrtus had quaite a fight on hand before he overcame Netherlands fourth seed Rowan Damming 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 1-11, and 11-8 in a well-contested encounter.
India’s top seed Akanksha Salunkhe also encountered a strong challenge from Egypt’s fifth seed Jana Swaify before clinching an 11-5, 12-14, 15-13, 5-11, and 12-10 in a a tight game. Second seeded Anahat Singh defeated third seed Nour Khafagy of Egypt 11-4, 12-14, 11-9, 11-9.
The 16-year-old Anahat had defeated Anjali Semwal (IND) 11-3, 11-7, 11-7 in a quarter-final match while Akanksha Salunkhe had defeated Hong Kong’s Sze Wing Wai in three straight games 11-5, 11-4, 11-3.
Results - Women's semi-finals: 2-Anahat Singh (IND) bt. 3-Nour Khafagy (EGY) 3-1 (11-4, 12-14, 11-9, 11-9).
1-Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt. 5-Jana Swaify (EGY) 3-2 (11-5, 12-14, 15-13, 5-11, 12-10).
Men's semi-finals: 1-Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt. 4-Rowan Damming (NED) 3-2 (7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 1-11, 11-8).
