Abhay Singh, Veer Chotrani exit British Open squash in round two
Synopsis
India's two surviving men's singles contenders at the British Open squash championships both fell in the second round in Birmingham — Abhay Singh pushed world No. 8 Zakaria to four games before losing, while Veer Chotrani was beaten by sixth seed Joel Makin. Both had produced standout first-round wins, but top-10 opposition proved the ceiling for India's campaign this year.
Key Takeaways
Abhay Singh (world No.
24 ) lost to Mohamad Zakaria (world No.
8 ) 9-11, 4-11, 11-7, 10-12 in the second round.
Veer Chotrani (world No.
40 ) fell to Welsh sixth seed Joel Makin (world No.
6 ) 10-12, 9-11, 3-11 .
Chotrani had beaten Pakistan's Noor Zaman (world No.
29 ) in the first round; Abhay had defeated Colombia's Matias Knudsen 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 .
Ramit Tandon retired from his first-round match; Anahat Singh exited the women's draw in a four-game loss.
Abhay and Chotrani were India's only players to progress beyond the first round of the PSA Diamond event.
Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani bowed out of the British Open squash championships in the second round on Tuesday in Birmingham, both falling to higher-ranked opponents in a day that ended India's challenge in the men's draw of the prestigious PSA Diamond event.
Abhay's Close-Fought Loss to Zakaria
World No. 24 Abhay Singh pushed Egyptian star Mohamad Zakaria — ranked world No. 8 — to the limit before going down 9-11, 4-11, 11-7, 10-12 in a tightly contested four-game encounter. Abhay had lost the opening two games convincingly but fought back to take the third, threatening to force a decider before Zakaria held his nerve in a tense fourth game to advance.
The defeat capped an encouraging run for Abhay, who had opened his campaign with a dominant straight-games win over Colombia's Matias Knudsen — 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 — to set up the second-round clash.
Chotrani Falls to Makin's Experience
World No. 40 Veer Chotrani was beaten by Welsh sixth seed Joel Makin, the world No. 6, going down 10-12, 9-11, 3-11. Chotrani had been competitive in the opening two games but Makin's consistency and experience proved decisive as he progressed to the last 16.
Chotrani had entered the second round on the back of one of the standout first-round victories of the tournament, defeating Pakistan's world No. 29 Noor Zaman 11-8, 12-14, 11-6, 11-7 in a hard-fought contest.
India's Wider Campaign
Abhay and Chotrani were the only Indians to advance past the opening round. Ramit Tandon was forced to retire from his first-round match against France's Auguste Dussourd with the score at 14-12, 4-7, while teenage sensation Anahat Singh exited the women's draw after a four-game defeat to Egypt's Nardine Garas.
What It Means for Indian Squash
This is the British Open, one of squash's oldest and most prestigious titles, and reaching the second round of a PSA Diamond event against top-10 opposition represents meaningful progress for both players. Notably, Chotrani's win over a top-30 Pakistani player and Abhay's competitive showing against the world No. 8 underscore a gradual rise in India's standing on the global squash circuit.
With the PSA World Tour continuing, both players will look to carry this form into upcoming tournaments as India seeks greater representation in the latter stages of elite squash events.
Point of View
Which softens the disappointment but also reveals the ceiling India's men currently face on the PSA Diamond circuit. Chotrani's straight-games loss to Makin after a gruelling first-round win suggests fitness and recovery may be as much a factor as technique at this level. Abhay's ability to take a game off the world No. 8 is a genuine marker of progress, but converting competitive sets into wins against elite Egyptians remains the unresolved challenge for Indian squash. The programme needs more PSA Diamond exposure — not just first-round entries — before second-week runs become routine.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Abhay Singh at the British Open squash 2025?
Abhay Singh, ranked world No. 24, lost to Egyptian world No. 8 Mohamad Zakaria 9-11, 4-11, 11-7, 10-12 in the second round in Birmingham. He had beaten Colombia's Matias Knudsen in the first round.
How did Veer Chotrani exit the British Open?
Veer Chotrani, ranked world No. 40, was beaten 10-12, 9-11, 3-11 by Welsh sixth seed Joel Makin, the world No. 6, in the second round. He had defeated Pakistan's Noor Zaman in the first round.
Who else represented India at the British Open squash championships?
Ramit Tandon and Anahat Singh also featured. Tandon retired from his first-round match against France's Auguste Dussourd, while Anahat Singh lost in four games to Egypt's Nardine Garas in the women's draw.
What is the British Open squash championship?
The British Open is one of squash's oldest and most prestigious titles, classified as a PSA Diamond event — the highest tier on the Professional Squash Association World Tour. It is held in Birmingham.
How far did India progress in the British Open men's draw?
India's best performers were Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani, both of whom reached the second round before losing to top-10 opponents. No Indian player advanced to the last 16 of the men's draw.
