Indian squash witnessed one of its biggest results of the 2026 season as World No. 41 Ramit Tandon stunned World No. 17 and third seed Mohamed Abouelghar of Egypt to storm into the quarterfinals of the DR21 Motor City Open, a PSA Silver event being held at the Birmingham Athletic Club in Detroit.
Tandon’s composed 3–1 victory not only marked a significant personal milestone but also underlined India’s growing competitiveness on the PSA Tour. Facing a vastly experienced opponent and former World Championship finalist, Tandon delivered a performance built on discipline, patience, and tactical clarity. The Indian took the match 11–8, 10–12, 11–2, and 13–11, showing remarkable control in the longer exchanges and exceptional composure at critical moments.
Tandon began confidently, using tight length and controlled aggression to take the opening game 11–8. Abouelghar, known for his retrieving ability and deceptive shot-making, responded in the second game, edging it 12–10 after saving game balls and forcing Tandon into extended rallies. Rather than allowing momentum to swing decisively, Tandon reset impressively. The third game was a statement of intent, as he raced through it 11–2, dominating the T-position and denying Abouelghar opportunities to attack.
The fourth game proved the true test of Tandon’s mental strength. With both players trading points deep into the game, the Indian held his nerve under sustained pressure, converting key points late on to close out the contest 13–11. The result sent shockwaves through the draw and confirmed one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far.
This breakthrough win came on the back of another solid performance earlier in the event. In the Round of 16, Tandon had already showcased his form by defeating Tom Walsh of England 3–1 (11–8, 11–4, 8–11, 11–4). That win ensured his passage into the latter stages and set the platform for his memorable triumph over Abouelghar. With back-to-back wins over English and Egyptian opposition, Tandon demonstrated consistency rather than a one-off peak.
Tandon’s reward is a quarterfinal clash against World No. 34 Yahya Elnawasany of Egypt, another tough opponent but one he will approach with renewed confidence. Having already beaten a top-20 player in the draw, the Indian will believe he can extend his run further and collect valuable ranking points at Silver-level competition.
India’s presence at the DR21 Motor City Open was not limited to Tandon alone. Velavan Senthilkumar, ranked World No.46, also made a strong start to the tournament. He advanced into the Round of 16 with a convincing 3–0 victory over Sam Osborne-Wylde of England (11–9, 11–5, 11–6), controlling the tempo and keeping errors to a minimum. However, Velavan’s campaign ended in the pre-quarterfinals after a hard-fought loss to seventh seed Timothy Brownell of the USA (WR27). Despite taking the second game 13–11, Velavan went down 3–1 (3–11, 13–11, 9–11, 4–11), bowing out after a competitive showing against higher-ranked opposition.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
The DR21 Motor City Open 2026 began with a busy opening day featuring eight Round One matches across the men’s draw. One of the notable non-Indian results was produced by 20-year-old Egyptian Salma Khalil, who recorded an impressive five-game upset over former World No. 17 Adrian Waller of England. After dropping the first game, Khalil responded strongly to win 3–2, sealing his 12th victory of the season and booking a second-round meeting with fourth seed Dimitri Steinmann.
Another marathon encounter saw Karim El Hammamy of Egypt edge past Leandro Romiglio of Argentina in an 86-minute five-game battle. El Hammamy’s recent confidence, stemming from a strong showing against Mohamed ElShorbagy at the Karachi Open, was evident as he closed out the decider 11–7. He now faces sixth seed Nicolas Mueller in the next round.
England’s Sam Todd was the only English player to progress from Round One, recovering from a one-sided opening game loss to defeat compatriot Simon Herbert in four games. Todd’s reward is a high-profile clash with second seed and English No. 1 Marwan ElShorbagy.
As the tournament moves into its decisive stages, the spotlight firmly rests on Ramit Tandon. His victory over Mohamed Abouelghar stands as one of the finest wins of his professional career and a timely reminder of India’s growing depth in men’s squash. With a quarterfinal berth secured and another Egyptian opponent awaiting, Tandon has already made Detroit a memorable stop on his PSA journey and may yet have more to add.
