World Squash Championships: Indian challenge ends in second round

After losing the first game 7-11, Anahat came back strongly and won the second game 11-8 and leveled the tie 1-1. However, Fayrouz was unstoppable in the last two games winning 4-11 and 3-11 cutting short Anahat’s debut at the World Championships.

Earlier in the first round, Anahat defeated Marina Stefanoni of USA in a thrilling encounter. After losing the first game 10-12, she came back to win the second game 11-9, lost the third game 6-11, and then clinched the final two games 11-6, 11-6, securing a 3-2 victory.

World number 63 Anahat booked her berth for the championship last month at the Asian Qualifying tournament becoming only the second player to qualify for women’s singles after Joshna Chinappa in the past six years.

Result: Women’s RD2

🇪🇬 @fayrouzaboelkh1 beats Anahat Singh 🇮🇳
3-1: 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-3 (28m)#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/1HppAdNnIN

— PSA World Championships (@PSAWorldChamps) May 11, 2025

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The 17-year-old Anahat, ranked 62nd in the world, had earlier beaten world No. 28 American Marina Stefanoni in the opening round.

It was a disappointing day in men’s singles as all three Indian players crashed out.

Abhay Singh was no match to world number 13 Youssef Ibrahim of Egypt, losing 0-3 (6-11,6-11,9-11) while Chotrani showed some fight against top seed Ali Farag of Egypt.

Chotrani stunned Farag in the first game winning it 11-7 but the experienced Egyptian have Chotrani no chance winning the next three game 7-11, 3-11, 10-12.

Experienced player Ramit Tandon went down fighting to eighth seed Marwan Elshorbagy of England.

After losing the first two games 9-11 and 7-11, Tandon came back strongly to win the next two games 11-5 and 11-8. However in the deciding set, he lost 8-11 to end his campaign in the tournament.

With the end of the campaign, India’s wait for a medal at the Squash World Championships continue.