India’s Veer Chotrani rallied to upset compatriot Abhay Singh in a hard-fought opening round encounter at the World Squash Championships 2026 in Giza, Egypt, on Friday.
World No. 45 Veer Chotrani beat Abhay Singh, 22nd in the squash rankings, 3-2 (14-12, 8-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-2), at the Palm Hills Club and PGC Golf Central Mall to secure his passage into the second round.
After edging Asian Games medallist Abhay Singh in a tight tie-break in the opening game, Veer Chotrani found himself with his back against the wall after losing the next two.
However, Veer Chotrani fought back from the brink against his fellow countryman by winning the next two games and advancing to the second round.
This was Veer Chotrani’s second victory over Abhay Singh – India’s top-ranked men’s player – in three matches between the pair.
He will face defending champion and world No. 1 Mostafa Asal of Egypt in the second round.
India had sent a four-member Indian contingent for the World Squash Championships.
Asian Games medallist Ramit Tandon and World Cup gold medallist Velavan Senthilkumar are the other two Indian squash players competing at the Giza meet.
Velavan Senthilkumar will square off against France’s sixth seed and current world No. 5 Victor Crouin on Saturday.
World No. 40 Ramit Tandon will take on Egypt’s Kareem El Torkey – a player ranked 19 places better off – in his opener.
At last year’s World Championships in Chicago, India’s campaign ended in the second round. Anahat Singh, Veer Chotrani, Abhay Singh and Ramit Tandon all exited after competitive losses, while Velavan Senthilkumar was ousted in the opening round.
Indian women’s squash players, including Anahat Singh, are not competing this year.
India are yet to win a medal in singles events at the World Squash Championships to date.
Squash is set to make its Olympic debut at LA 2028.
READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/world-squash-championships-2026-day-1-report-india
