Veer Chotrani Stuns Abhay Singh in Thrilling World Squash Championship Opener

In an exhilarating match at the 2026 World Squash Championships in Giza, Veer Chotrani staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Abhay Singh. After trailing 2-1, Chotrani rallied to win 3-2, securing his place in the next round against world No. 1 Mostafa Asal. This victory marks a significant moment for Chotrani, as he aims for success in a tournament where India seeks its first singles medal. The Indian contingent, including Ramit Tandon and Velavan Senthilkumar, is also competing in this prestigious event.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 9, 2026, 09:27 IST

Chotrani's Remarkable Comeback

In a gripping opening round at the 2026 World Squash Championships held in Giza, Egypt, India's Veer Chotrani made a remarkable comeback to defeat fellow Indian player Abhay Singh. Ranked 45th in the world, Chotrani rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win the match 3-2, with scores of 14-12, 8-11, 5-11, 11-7, and 11-2, as reported by Olympics.com.

Advancing to the Next Round

This victory marks Chotrani's second win against Abhay in their three encounters, earning him a spot in the second round. There, he will face the defending champion and world number one, Mostafa Asal from Egypt.

A Thrilling Five-Game Match

The match commenced with a fiercely contested first game, where Chotrani narrowly won 14-12, gaining an early lead. However, Abhay, an Asian Games medallist, quickly turned the tide by winning the next two games with scores of 11-8 and 11-5. Facing a challenging situation, Chotrani intensified his gameplay in the fourth game, securing an 11-7 victory to level the match. The final game saw Chotrani dominate, finishing with an impressive 11-2 score.

Indian Players Competing in Giza

India has sent a four-member men's team to this year's championships. Alongside Chotrani and Abhay, Ramit Tandon and Velavan Senthilkumar are also competing. Velavan, the reigning World Cup gold medallist, is set to face France's sixth seed and world number five, Victor Crouin, in his opening match on Saturday. Meanwhile, world number 40 Ramit Tandon will compete against Egypt's Kareem El Torkey in another first-round match.

Aiming for Historic Success

India is on a quest for its first singles medal at the World Squash Championships. Notably, squash will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.