Shameena, Semwal pull off upsets at HCL-SRFI PSA Challenger

Om Semwal and Shameena Riaz

India's Shameena Riaz and Om Semwal pulled off major upsets at the USD 15,000 HCL-SRFI PSA Challenger Tournament, being hosted by the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana Club, on Tuesday.

Shameena, 20, who grabbed the last spot on the Indian team for the Asian Games, accounted for top seed Hayley Ward of South Africa in four games (8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9). "It took me some time to settle down and adjust to the conditions and I then started moving the ball around the court, making my opponent work harder," said Shameena, daughter of former India hockey captain Mohammed Riaz.

Meanwhile, Semwal, 22, got the better of third seed Diego Gobbi of Brazil in five games (6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9). "It was a tight and tough match. I just played it one point at a time, determined to stay with my opponent," said Semwal.

In other matches featuring Indians, third seed Tanvi Khanna outplayed Pooja Arthi Raghu 3-0, while fifth seed Suraj Kumar Chand lost in three games to Egypt's Ziad Ibrahim.