MST Dubai Series I: Ramachandran Secures Emphatic Maiden Victory

India’s Sandeep Ramachandran claimed his first Tour title on Saturday evening, winning the MST Dubai Squash Series I in convincing style, coming through all four matches without dropping a game

The Challenger 5 level tournament, which was held at the Aviation Club at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel in Dubai, was restricted to domestic entrants only, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, meaning only those currently living in the United Arab Emirates were permitted to play.

Ramachandran, the World No.311, came into the tournament as the top seed, and he started his campaign with a comfortable win over compatriot and wildcard Amir Kaushal.

The Indian then defeated Pakistan’s Muhammad Waseem, the tournament’s No.6 seed, before a win against Pakistan’s Salman Hashim, the event’s surprise package, saw Ramachandran through to the final.

In the final, the World No.311 took on Egypt’s Seifeldin Shams, who was participating in his first tournament as a professional. However, it was Ramachandran that secured the victory, winning in straight games, as he did all week, to take his maiden title on Tour.

Results: MST Dubai Squash Series I
Final
[1] Sandeep Ramachandran (IND) bt [4] Seifeldin Shams (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-3, 11-5 (25m)

Semi-Finals
[1] Sandeep Ramachandran (IND) bt Salman Hashmi (PAK) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (38m)
[4] Seifeldin Shams (EGY) bt [8] Sampuran Banerjee (UAE) 3-0; 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (25m)

Quarter Finals
[1] Sandeep Ramachandran (IND) bt [6] Muhammad Waseem (PAK) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (30m)
Salman Hashmi (PAK) bt [3] Muhammad Jehangir Khan (PAK) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-2 (25m)
[4] Seifeldin Shams (EGY) bt [7] Omar Afifi (EGY) 3-1: 8-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (37m)
[8] Sampuran Banerjee (UAE) bt [2] Abdelaziz Hegazy (EGY): Walkover

Round One
[1] Sandeep Ramachandran (IND) bt [WC] Amit Kaushal (IND) 3-0: 11-1, 11-4, 11-2 (10m)
[6] Muhammad Waseem (PAK) bt [WC] Rizwan Khan (PAK) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 1-5 (25m)
Salman Hashmi (PAK) bt [5] Ali Miski (UAE) 3-0: 11-3, 11-6, 1-0 rtd (14m)
[3] Muhammad Jehangir Khan (PAK) bt Barath Balaji (IND) 3-2: 9-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (45m)
[4] Seifeldin Shams (EGY) bt Zeineldin Shams (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (30m)
[7] Omar Afifi (EGY) bt Nicolai Denisov (RUS) 3-2: 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8 (48m)
[8] Sampuran Banerjee (UAE) bt [WC] Rohan Roy (USA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 (19m)
[2] Abdelaziz Hegazy (EGY) bt [WC] Vishal Vanket (IND) 3-0: 11-3, 11-0, 11-2 (11m)