Chotrani stuns higher-ranked Singh in World Squash Championships opener
Synopsis
In a dramatic upset, Indian world No. 45 Veer Chotrani fought back from two games down to defeat higher-ranked compatriot Abhay Singh in a five-game thriller at the World Squash Championships in Giza. The victory gives India hope of breaking a long medal drought in singles events at the world's premier squash tournament.
Key Takeaways
Veer Chotrani (world No.
45) defeated Abhay Singh (world No.
22) 14-12, 8-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-2 in the opening round.
Chotrani rallied from two games down to secure victory in five games at the World Squash Championships in Giza on 9 May .
This is Chotrani's second win in three meetings against Singh .
Chotrani will next face Egyptian world No.
1 Mostafa Asal on Sunday.
India has never won a singles medal at the World Squash Championships .
Indian squash player Veer Chotrani, ranked world No. 45, defeated higher-ranked compatriot Abhay Singh (world No. 22) in five games in the men's opening round of the World Squash Championships in Giza on 9 May. The victory marks Chotrani's second win in three head-to-head meetings against Singh, an Asian Games medallist.
The match turning point
Chotrani edged Singh 14-12 in a tight opening game, but found himself in a precarious position after losing the next two games 8-11 and 5-11. Facing elimination, Chotrani rallied to claim the fourth and fifth games 11-7 and 11-2, securing his passage to the second round.
Chotrani's reaction
"It's obviously tough to play a countryman in the first round of the World Championships. We don't want one of us to get out in the first round, but this was how it was planned and I'm very happy to be the one that got through," Chotrani said after the match. He credited the victory as a confidence boost following recent training improvements and referenced a prior loss to Singh in an Indian final, which he described as a disappointing performance.
Road ahead for Indian contingent
Chotrani will face Egyptian world No. 1 Mostafa Asal in the second round on Sunday. Fellow Indian players Ramit Tandon and Velavan Senthilkumar are set to begin their campaigns against Egyptian world No. 21 Kareem El Torkey and French world No. 5 Victor Crouin, respectively, in the 64-strong field.
India's World Championships history
At last year's World Championships in Chicago, India's campaign faltered in the second round. Anahat Singh, Veer Chotrani, Abhay Singh, and Ramit Tandon all exited after competitive losses, while Velavan Senthilkumar was eliminated in the opening round. Notably, India remains without a singles medal in the history of the World Squash Championships.
Point of View
But for what it signals about India's squash trajectory. India has knocked on the door at the World Championships for years without a medal to show for it. Chotrani's ability to recover from two games down — and his ranking trajectory — suggests the breakthrough may finally be within reach. However, a matchup with world No. 1 Asal is a reality check; India's singles drought persists because the talent has consistently faced elite opposition too early in the draw.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the match between Veer Chotrani and Abhay Singh?
Veer Chotrani defeated Abhay Singh 14-12, 8-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-2 in five games at the World Squash Championships in Giza on 9 May. Chotrani came back from two games down to secure the victory.
What is Veer Chotrani's world ranking?
Veer Chotrani is ranked world No. 45, while his opponent Abhay Singh is ranked world No. 22. Despite the ranking gap, Chotrani has won two of their three head-to-head meetings.
Who will Chotrani face next?
Chotrani will play Egyptian world No. 1 Mostafa Asal in the second round on Sunday.
Has India ever won a medal at the World Squash Championships?
No, India remains without a singles medal in the history of the World Squash Championships, despite fielding competitive players like Chotrani, Singh, and others.
What happened to the Indian team at last year's World Championships?
At the 2023 World Championships in Chicago, all five Indian players were eliminated by the second round. Anahat Singh, Veer Chotrani, Abhay Singh, and Ramit Tandon exited after competitive losses in the second round, while Velavan Senthilkumar was ousted in the opening round.
