British Open Squash 2025: Abhay, Chotrani into Round 2; Anahat, Tandon exit
Synopsis
India's squash contingent had a split day at the British Open in Birmingham — Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani won their openers, but Anahat Singh was upset by world No. 36 Nardine Garas and Ramit Tandon retired mid-match. With seeded opponents next for both winners, the harder test is still to come.
Key Takeaways
Abhay Singh (world No.
24) beat Colombia's Matias Knudsen 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 to reach Round 2 of the British Open in Birmingham .
Veer Chotrani (world No.
44) defeated Pakistan's Noor Zaman (world No.
29) 11-8, 12-14, 11-6, 11-7 .
Ramit Tandon retired against Frenchman Auguste Dussourd with the score at 14-12, 4-7 .
1 Anahat Singh was eliminated by world No.
36 Nardine Garas of Egypt, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9 .
Abhay next faces seventh-seed Mohamad Zakaria ; Chotrani takes on fifth-seed Joel Makin .
Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani advanced to the second round of the British Open squash tournament in Birmingham on 31 May, keeping India's challenge alive in the PSA Diamond event. However, Ramit Tandon and women's star Anahat Singh exited in the opening round, leaving the Indian contingent with a mixed day on court.
Abhay and Chotrani Book Their Places
World No. 24 Abhay Singh delivered a commanding straight-games victory over Colombia's Matias Knudsen, winning 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 to set up a second-round clash against seventh-seed Egyptian Mohamad Zakaria.
World No. 44 Veer Chotrani produced a gritty four-game win over Pakistan's world No. 29 Noor Zaman, prevailing 11-8, 12-14, 11-6, 11-7 in what was a closely contested affair. Chotrani will next face fifth-seed Welsh player Joel Makin — a stern test of his credentials at this level.
Tandon and Anahat Fall at First Hurdle
Ramit Tandon's campaign ended abruptly when he retired against Frenchman Auguste Dussourd, with the score standing at 14-12, 4-7 at the time of withdrawal. No official reason was immediately reported for the retirement.
In the women's draw, India No. 1 Anahat Singh was eliminated by world No. 36 Nardine Garas of Egypt in four games, going down 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9. Garas, who was ranked below Anahat heading into the match, pushed the young Indian to her limits from the outset before sealing the upset in the fourth game.
Garas Speaks After Upset Win
A visibly elated Garas reflected on her performance after the match. 'I'm so happy with the way I played today. I gave it my all and I thought it's the last tournament of the season and I wanted to give it my all,' she said. She added: 'I'm excited that my next match is at the Rep as my next match is on the glass. Let's see how it goes and I'm so excited to play.'
Garas will now face No. 8 seed Tinne Gilis on the glass court at the Rep theatre in Birmingham.
Other Notable First-Round Results
Simon Herbert recorded a statement 3-0 victory — 15-13, 11-8, 11-4 — over 2018 champion Miguel Rodriguez, signalling his intent in the draw. Sam Todd also progressed to the last 32 after a gruelling 54-minute contest against Fares Dessouky, winning 3-1.
With Abhay and Chotrani both through, India's hopes in the British Open now rest on how they navigate seeded opposition in the rounds ahead.
Point of View
She carries the weight of being India's top-ranked women's player at a PSA Diamond event — the sport's highest tier — and losses at this stage will define how quickly she bridges the gap to the world's elite. Chotrani's win over Noor Zaman, a higher-ranked opponent, is the day's most underrated result: beating a top-30 player in four games on the British Open stage is precisely the kind of scalp that moves the needle on world ranking points. India's men's squash depth is quietly building; the women's pipeline still needs its next breakthrough.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who advanced from India in the British Open squash 2025 first round?
Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani both won their first-round matches at the British Open in Birmingham on 31 May to advance to the second round of the PSA Diamond event.
Why did Ramit Tandon exit the British Open?
Ramit Tandon retired from his first-round match against Frenchman Auguste Dussourd with the score at 14-12, 4-7. No official reason for the retirement was immediately reported.
Who beat Anahat Singh at the British Open 2025?
Egypt's Nardine Garas, ranked world No. 36, defeated India's No. 1 Anahat Singh 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9 in the first round of the women's draw, causing a notable upset.
Who will Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani face in Round 2?
Abhay Singh will face seventh-seed Egyptian Mohamad Zakaria, while Veer Chotrani is set to play fifth-seed Welsh player Joel Makin in the second round of the British Open.
What is the British Open squash tournament?
The British Open is one of squash's most prestigious events, held annually in Birmingham, and carries PSA Diamond status — the highest tier on the Professional Squash Association tour.
