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Abhay Singh Stuns World No. 13, Anahat Pushes World No. 1 in El Gouna

Indian squash player Abhay Singh scored a major upset by defeating world No. 13 Aly Abou Eleinen in a five-game first-round thriller at the El Gouna Open. He fought back from a 1-2 deficit and from 7-3 down in the deciding game to secure the victory. In the women's draw, Anahat Singh put up a strong fight against world No. 1 Hania El Hammamy, winning the third game before falling in four. Abhay Singh advances to face sixth seed Youssef Ibrahim in the next round.

Key Points: Indian Squash: Abhay Singh Wins, Anahat Singh Exits El Gouna Open

  • Abhay Singh rallies from 1-2 down
  • Wins five-game thriller vs world No. 13
  • Anahat Singh takes a game off world No. 1
  • El Hammamy wins hard-fought 4-game match
2 min read

Abhay advances, Anahat bows out of El Gouna squash

Abhay Singh stages a thrilling comeback against Aly Abou Eleinen at the El Gouna Open. Anahat Singh pushes world No. 1 Hania El Hammamy in a tight match.

"He then stunned Eleinen after fighting back from 7-3 down in the deciding game. - Report"

El Gouna, April 5

Abhay Singh rallied to beat Egyptian world No. 13 Aly Abou Eleinen 9-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-4, 11-8 in the men's opening round of the El Gouna Open, a PSA Platinum event.

The Egyptian managed to edge out the first game 11-9. Singh responded immediately in the second, finding his rhythm and leveling the score with an 11-8 win. The momentum swung wildly in the middle of the match. Eleinen dominated the third game, capitalising on a series of unforced errors from Singh to take it 11-3.

Facing a 1-2 deficit, Abhay was completely reset in the fourth, turning the tables with an aggressive 11-4 win to force a decider. He then stunned Eleinen after fighting back from 7-3 down in the deciding game.

World No. 25 Abhay will next meet Egyptian sixth seed and world No. 7 Youssef Ibrahim.

Meanwhile, world No. 20 Anahat Singh lost to world No. 1 Egyptian Hania El Hammamy, who advanced with a 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8 first-round win in the women's section.

The 18-year-old Anahat, the recent Indian Open champion, flew out of the blocks with her unorthodox attacking strokeplay, racing into an early 7-5 lead. However, top seed El Hammamy began to grow into the contest as she fought back to claim the first 11-8, and move through a one-sided second by an 11-5 scoreline.

At 4-0 up in the third game, El Hammamy looked to be home and dry, but Singh showed great character to claw her way back into the contest with a string of stunning winners, winning nine of the next 10 points. Despite El Hammamy bringing the scoreline back to 10-9, Singh held on to force a fourth game with a stunning game-ball winner.

Singh's deceptive attacks continued to cause El Hammamy issues as the fourth progressed, but it was the 2022 champion who held strong in the latter stages to clinch a hard-fought 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8 after 49 minutes of play.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
So proud of Anahat Singh! She's only 18 and took a game off the world number one. That fightback in the third game from 4-0 down was incredible. She has a very bright future ahead. The experience from these matches is priceless.
R
Rohit P
Mixed day for Indian squash, but more positives than negatives. Abhay's win is huge for his ranking. We need more players breaking into the top 20 consistently. The federation must ensure they get enough international exposure and quality coaching.
M
Michael C
Watching from the UK. That was a proper thriller! Abhay Singh has a great temperament. The way he reset after that 11-3 loss in the third game was the key. Indian athletes are really making a mark in individual sports now.
S
Shreya B
Anahat's "unorthodox attacking strokeplay" sounds exciting! We need players with unique styles to challenge the established order. Sad she lost, but pushing the world champ to 49 minutes is a statement in itself. 💪
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Nikhil C
Great results, but a small critique. The article mentions "unforced errors" from Abhay in the third game. At this level, consistency is what separates the good from the great. He needs to cut those out to beat top 10 players like Ibrahim next.

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