India’s rising squash star Veer Chotrani produced one of the most commanding performances of his PSA career as he marched into the final of The St. James Expression Open 2025, a PSA Copper event in the United States.
The world No. 51 defeated USA’s world No. 32 Timothy Brownell in straight games 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 to book his place in Sunday’s title clash, where he will face top seed and world No. 15 Leonel Cárdenas of Mexico. For Chotrani, this run represents one of the biggest breakthroughs of his young career. A PSA Copper title would be his first at this level, and the manner in which he has reached the final signals a player growing rapidly in confidence, maturity, and tactical discipline.
Coming into the semifinal, Brownell USA’s No. 1 and the tournament’s third seed was expected to bring physicality and length to test Chotrani. Instead, the Indian flipped the script. Confident from the very first rally, Chotrani controlled the middle of the court, volleyed aggressively, and used his variations to force Brownell deep and wide. The opening two games followed a similar pattern tight exchanges through the mid-court, with Chotrani pulling away in the closing stages. At 11-8, 11-8, he looked in complete command. The third game showcased the full force of his momentum as he raced to an 11-4 finish, closing the match in straight games and announcing his arrival as a serious contender for the title.
The victory capped what has been an outstanding week for the Indian. Earlier, he stunned No. 2 seed Mohamed ElSherbini of Egypt in a five-game thriller 7-11, 12-10, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6 absorbing pressure in the fourth game and rebounding to dominate the decider.
A Tournament of Upsets and Chotrani at the Center of It
While Chotrani’s rise has been the highlight from an Indian perspective, the entire men’s draw has been full of drama. Only two of the top four seeds made it to the semifinals. Chotrani’s win over ElSherbini was one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, but other quarterfinals were just as gripping. In the top half, the tournament’s No. 1 seed Leonel Cárdenas showcased his trademark precision in a 3-0 win over Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue (12-10, 11-9, 11-7), earning his place as the clear favourite for the title. Argentina’s Jeremias Azaña, meanwhile, produced a spirited five-game victory over Egypt’s Salman Khalil, winning 11-6 in the decider after the match swung dramatically between both players.
The bottom half saw an all-USA thriller between Timothy Brownell and Shahjahan Khan. Brownell, after losing the opening game, regained control to lead 2-1 before a shock 11-1 loss in game four. The deciding game swung wildly but Brownell held firm to win 12-10 and progress only to run into an inspired Chotrani a round later.
That semifinal, however, belonged entirely to the Indian.
Cardenas Awaits The Biggest Test Yet
Chotrani’s opponent in the final, Leonel Cárdenas, enters the championship match in excellent form. The Mexican recently captured the Toronto Athletic Club Open title and has looked composed and ruthless throughout this event. His cleaner, faster semifinal win gives him a slight physical edge heading into the final. Cárdenas thrives on accuracy and tempo, often denying opponents access to the middle of the court. For Chotrani, the challenge will be maintaining the same assertive volleying and confident lines that brought him past Brownell. The Indian has shown all week that he can stay calm in tight moments, fight back from difficult game situations, and accelerate when opportunities present themselves.
With both players coming off strong seasons, the final promises to be a tactical clash as much as a physical one.
For Veer Chotrani, reaching the final of a PSA Copper event is a significant stepping stone. It reflects not just an upward ranking trajectory but the evolution of a player who has spent the past two seasons steadily building results across Challenger and Bronze events. A Copper title would push him further toward the top-40 bracket and set up a strong 2026 season.
The calmness he displayed against ElSherbini, and the efficiency he showcased against Brownell, suggest a player who is learning to manage matches at this level. His movement has sharpened, his control at the T has improved, and he is converting pressure moments the key leap required to win PSA titles.
Sunday’s final against Cárdenas will be Veer’s toughest test of the week. Yet, given the manner in which he has handled both seeded and higher-ranked opponents, Chotrani enters the contest with momentum and belief. Whether he captures his first PSA Copper trophy or not, Dhaka 2025 has already marked a defining week in his journey.
For now, India has a new squash star pushing toward bigger stages and the confidence he brings into the final suggests this may be just the beginning.
