Velavan Senthilkumar Budapest Open 2026 squash win boosts Asian Games hopes

India’s Velavan Senthilkumar won his maiden PSA Squash Tour title after defeating Hungary’s Balzs Farkas in the final of the 2026 Budapest Open on Friday. The eighth-seeded Indian produced a dominant straight-sets victory over the home favorite to cap off an impressive week in the Hungarian capital.

The world No. 54 beat ninth seed Farkas 11-4, 11-2, 11-3 in the final of the $43,500 PSA Copper level tournament. The win also marked Senthilkumar’s 11th PSA Tour crown and gave him the edge in his head-to-head record against Farkas.

The Budapest final was their third meeting on the PSA Tour and Senthilkumar now leads 2-1. The Indian won their previous match in 2024, while Farkas came out on top when they first met in 2019.

Senthilkumar’s biggest test of the tournament came a round earlier when he faced compatriot Veer Chotrani in the all-India semi-final. After dropping the opening game, the eighth seed battled back to win 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 1-11, 12-10 in a grueling five-game set.

Earlier, Senthilkumar achieved one of the best results of his career when he defeated Malaysian world number 19 Eain Yow in the quarter-finals. He defeated the top seed and reigning Asian Games champion 11-2, 11-9, 11-8 to set up a last-four showdown with Chotrani.

SENTHILKUMAR’S BUDAPEST RUN

The 28-year-old opened his campaign with a comfortable victory over England’s Will Salter, beating him 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 in straight games. He then had to work harder against fifth seed Raphael Kandra of Germany, who recovered from a second-game defeat to win 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 11-2.

The win set up Senthilkumar’s meeting with Eain Yow, where the Indian produced his most emphatic performance of the week. He never allowed the Malaysian to settle, winning in three games before surviving a challenge from Chotrani in the semi-finals.

The final was a very different contest. Senthilkumar seized control from the opening exchanges and never allowed Farkas to build any momentum as he conceded just nine points in three games as he completed a comprehensive victory.

The title is another major step for a player who has spent the past few years establishing himself on the PSA Tour.

BUILDING UP BEFORE THE ASIAN GAMES

The timing of Senthilkumar’s breakthrough adds further significance as the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games approaches. He will now head into the men’s singles event confident of securing his first PSA title at the Copper level.

The Asian Games will bring added motivation for the Indian squash player as the men’s and women’s singles champions in Aichi-Nagoya will earn qualification spots for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Squash will make its Olympic debut in LA 2028, giving the continental event added significance.

For Senthilkumar, the Budapest Open title thus comes at an important stage in his career. He now has the first crown on the PSA Tour on his record, but the bigger opportunities of the Asian Games and the race for Olympic qualification lie ahead.

– The end

Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

August 29, 2026 12:59 PM IST