Indian squash enjoyed a significant moment at the Squash in the Land 2026, a PSA Silver event, as Veer Chotrani produced one of the best wins of his career to storm into the quarterfinals with a commanding straight-games victory over a higher-ranked opponent.
Competing against a strong international field, Chotrani’s performances across the early rounds underlined both his growing maturity on the PSA Tour and his readiness to challenge elite opposition.
Ranked world no. 52, Chotrani delivered a statement performance in the Round of 16, dismantling World No. 39 Yannick Wilhelmi of Switzerland 3–0. The scoreline 11-6, 11-8, 11-2 reflected not just dominance but tactical clarity. Chotrani controlled the middle of the court, applied consistent pressure with his length, and capitalized on short balls with confidence. Wilhelmi, seeded eighth, struggled to disrupt the Indian’s rhythm as Chotrani tightened the screws with each passing game, particularly in a ruthless third game that ended any resistance.
That result followed an equally emphatic showing in the Round of 32, where Chotrani eased past Ignatius Lahorra of the United States 3–0 (11-3, 11-3, 11-4) to enter the last 16. Across both matches, Chotrani dropped just 29 points in six games, a statistic that highlights the control and efficiency with which he navigated the early stages of the tournament.
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The reward for his efforts is a high-profile quarterfinal clash against second seed and World No. 13 Leonel Cardenas of Mexico, one of the most consistent performers on the PSA circuit. While Cardenas enters as the clear favorite, Chotrani’s current form suggests he will approach the match with confidence rather than caution. For the Indian, this quarterfinal represents not just an opportunity for a deep run, but a chance to measure himself against top-15 opposition in a high-stakes environment.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Cardenas himself advanced with a composed 3–0 win over Egypt’s Mazen Hesham (11-5, 13-11, 11-7), demonstrating the composure and shot selection that have made him a regular presence at the business end of PSA events. England’s Nathan Lake also impressed, dispatching fifth seed Auguste Dussourd of France in straight games, while Raphael Kandra of Germany cruised past Perry Malik without dropping a game.
The women’s draw saw several seeds assert their authority, though not without moments of drama. World No. 1 Olivia Weaver of the United States advanced comfortably with a dominant 3–0 victory over Egypt’s Nour Aboulmakarim, continuing her strong run of form. England’s Jasmine Hutton, seeded third, also progressed smoothly, overcoming Spain’s Marta Dominguez in under half an hour.
One of the most gripping contests came from Malak Khafagy of Egypt, who fought back after dropping two games to defeat Alicia Mead in a five-game battle that lasted over 40 minutes. The match showcased Khafagy’s resilience and physical conditioning, qualities that could prove decisive in the latter stages of the tournament.
In other notable results, Sabrina Sobhy of the USA eliminated fourth seed Rachel Arnold of Malaysia in four games, while Belgium’s Nele Gillis moved into the next round with a confident straight-games win. On the women’s side, England’s Lucy Turmel and Canada’s Hollie Naughton both survived testing encounters to keep their campaigns alive.
For Indian squash, however, the spotlight firmly remains on Veer Chotrani. His back-to-back straight-game victories against international opponents, culminating in a win over a higher-ranked seed, mark a meaningful step forward in his PSA journey.
With a quarterfinal against a top-15 player now on the horizon, Chotrani has already ensured that his campaign at Squash in the Land will be remembered as one of progress and promise and, potentially, something even bigger.
