Indian squash player Sanya Vats finished runner-up at the Ballarat Open, a USD 3,000 PSA Challenger event in Victoria, Australia, after losing to top seed and local favourite Sarah Cardwell in the women’s final on Sunday.

Vats, the second seed in the tournament, put up a determined effort but was unable to overcome Cardwell, who controlled the contest from the outset. The Australian secured a straight-game victory, winning 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 to claim the title on home soil.

Despite the defeat in the summit clash, Vats enjoyed an impressive run through the tournament and emerged as one of the standout performers in the women’s draw. The Delhi-based player displayed consistency and fighting spirit in the earlier rounds before running into a strong Cardwell in the final.
Vats began her semifinal campaign against South Korea’s Ain Jun and produced a commanding performance. The Indian second seed dictated the pace of the contest and wrapped up the match in straight games, winning 11-5, 11-8, 11-4. She maintained pressure on her opponent throughout and never allowed Jun to settle into a rhythm.

The semifinal victory followed an intense quarterfinal encounter against another South Korean player, Sunghee Oh. Vats had to dig deep after dropping the opening game 6-11. She responded strongly in the second game, winning 11-9, before edging a closely fought third game 12-10. The Indian then maintained her momentum to take the fourth game 11-4 and seal her place in the last four.

The quarterfinal was particularly significant for Vats as she demonstrated her ability to recover from setbacks and remain composed during crucial stages. After losing the opening game, she gradually found her range and turned the match in her favour.

Against Cardwell, however, Vats faced a player who was equally comfortable with the conditions and enjoyed the advantage of home support. The Australian top seed made a confident start and secured the opening game 11-6. Vats tried to fight her way back in the second game, but Cardwell continued to apply pressure and took it 11-8.

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With the title within reach, Cardwell remained in control in the third game. Vats continued to compete but could not force the match into a fourth game, with the Australian closing out the contest 11-6.

The Ballarat Open was another valuable opportunity for Vats to gain experience on the PSA Challenger circuit. Her run to the final included wins over two South Korean opponents and underlined her ability to compete strongly against international opposition.

While the runner-up finish meant Vats narrowly missed out on the title, her performance in Ballarat provided a positive result and valuable ranking points. The campaign also highlighted her resilience, particularly in the quarterfinal where she recovered from losing the opening game.

For Cardwell, the victory capped a successful home tournament as she converted her top seeding into the title. For Vats, the runner-up finish represents an encouraging showing and another step forward in her development on the international squash circuit.