India’s Velavan Senthilkumar clinched the PSA Budapest Squash Open title in Hungary on Friday, August 28, defeating home favourite Balazs Farkas 3-0 in the final. The Indian produced a commanding performance throughout the tournament, including straight-game wins over Malaysian World No. 18 and Asian Games gold medallist Eain Yow Ng in the quarterfinals and Hungarian favourite Farkas in the title clash.
He also survived a five-game battle against compatriot Veer Chotrani in the semifinals, winning 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 1-11, 12-10. Senthilkumar’s victory capped an impressive week at the $43,500 PSA Copper event in Budapest, where he overcame a strong field and became the tournament champion. The Hungarian Squash Federation described his performance as an outstanding run, while Farkas’ journey to the final was also hailed as one of the most memorable PSA performances of his career.
Dominant Final Win
Senthilkumar, ranked World No. 54 and seeded eighth, entered the final after an exhausting semifinal against Chotrani but showed little sign of fatigue against Farkas. Playing on the glass court at Budapest’s Millenáris venue, the Indian controlled the contest from the outset and completed a 3-0 victory with game scores of 11-4, 11-2 and 11-3.
The result ended Farkas’ impressive home run at the tournament, where the Hungarian had defeated several higher-ranked opponents to reach his first PSA Budapest Open final. The Hungarian Squash Federation praised Farkas for what it called an outstanding Hungarian result, while highlighting Senthilkumar’s consistency throughout the week.
The title was particularly significant given the quality of opposition Senthilkumar faced in the knockout rounds. In the quarterfinals, he produced one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by defeating top seed Eain Yow Ng, the Malaysian World No. 18 and Asian Games gold medallist, 11-2, 11-9, 11-8. He then faced another Indian challenge in the semifinals, where third seed Veer Chotrani pushed him into a deciding fifth game. Senthilkumar eventually held his nerve to win 12-10 in the final game and book his place in the final.
A Remarkable Week
The Budapest Open, held from August 24 to 28, carried a total prize purse of $43,500 and featured several players from the world’s top ranks. Senthilkumar began his campaign with a straight-game victory over England’s Will Salter before overcoming Germany’s sixth seed Raphael Kandra in four games. His quarterfinal victory over Ng then established him as a serious title contender. After the five-game semifinal against Chotrani, he produced his most authoritative performance of the tournament when it mattered most.
Farkas, meanwhile, had given the home crowd plenty to celebrate before the final. The Hungarian, ranked World No. 55, defeated Spain’s second seed Bernat Jaume in the second round and then beat Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue 3-0 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he defeated World No. 41 Moustafa Elsirty of Egypt 3-0 in just 32 minutes to reach the title clash.
The Hungarian federation noted that his silver medal was a significant result, particularly in a field containing multiple top-50 players.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Senthilkumar’s Budapest triumph is more than a personal sporting achievement—it is a reminder of what persistence, composure and healthy competition can make possible. His run involved facing a world-class opponent, overcoming a fellow Indian in a closely fought contest and then delivering a decisive performance against a player backed by a home crowd.
At the same time, Farkas’ run to the final deserves recognition, showing how sport can celebrate excellence on both sides even when there can be only one winner. Moments like these highlight the value of competing fiercely while respecting opponents and their journeys. As Indian squash continues to make its presence felt on the international stage, what can we do to give emerging athletes greater support and encouragement?
VELAVAN STORMS INTO FINALS! 🔥🔥🔥
— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) August 27, 2026
Velavan Senthilkumar defeated Compatriot Veer Chotrani in the thrilling Semi Finals clash of PSA Budapest Open 2026!
9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 1-11, 12-10 pic.twitter.com/qYHXrexwWc
