Abhay Singh Falls to Karim Gawad in Hard-Fought Zurich Quarterfinal

Zurich — India’s Abhay Singh put up a spirited fight but went down to Egypt’s former world No. 1 Karim Gawad in the men’s quarterfinal of the Grasshopper Cup, a PSA Gold-level squash event.

Ranked No. 24 in the world, Singh showed remarkable resilience after falling behind 0-6 in the opening game. He battled back to force a tie-break, but Gawad held his nerve to clinch it 12-10. The second game was equally competitive, with Singh even taking a 5-2 lead at one stage. However, the Egyptian second seed raised his level at crucial moments to seal the match 11-9 and book a place in the semifinals.

The 32-minute contest featured fast-paced rallies and attacking play from both sides. Gawad started strongly, racing ahead early, but Singh—playing his first-ever Gold-level quarterfinal—responded with composure and determination, capitalizing on a few unforced errors to draw level in the first game.

Despite Singh’s relentless pressure and ability to produce sudden bursts of brilliance, Gawad’s experience proved decisive in the closing stages of both games.

After the match, Gawad praised his opponent’s unpredictability and skill, noting how quickly Singh can turn a game around. Reflecting on their previous meeting in Qatar, the Egyptian said he was determined not to repeat the same outcome and was pleased to come through a challenging encounter.

With inputs from IANS