Zurich’s Grasshopper Cup delivered squash drama on April 25 when Egypt’s Karim Abdel Gawad, once the world’s top-ranked player and a world champion, overcame India’s Abhay Singh 12-10, 11-9 in the men’s quarterfinals. This PSA Gold event spotlighted a fierce rivalry, with world No. 24 Singh challenging the No. 4 seed in a 32-minute showdown packed with quality rallies.
Gawad dominated early, racing to a 6-0 lead in the first game with explosive power and precision. Singh, in his debut Gold quarterfinal, refused to fold. He equalized through sheer grit, exploiting unforced errors from Gawad to push into a tie-break. Saving a crucial game point, Gawad edged the first set, then steadied himself as Singh grabbed a 5-2 advantage in the second.
The turning point came as Gawad’s championship pedigree shone through. He reeled off points to seal the win and a spot in the final four. Reflecting on the bout, Gawad noted, ‘I’m thrilled. The speed was blistering. Abhay’s beaten me before in Qatar over four sets, so I went in focused on victory.’
He lauded his opponent’s unpredictability: ‘Abhay is among the tour’s sharpest minds. You can’t predict his next move. He came back from 7-0 down in moments, tying it up fast. That’s why you stay vigilant right till the last point.’
This loss marks a strong showing for Singh on the international stage, fueling optimism for Indian squash. Gawad’s advance promises more elite battles ahead in Zurich.
