Published: April 5, 2026 at 2:23 pm
Teenage sensation Anahat Singh gave top seed Hania El Hammamy a mighty third-game scare before falling at the El Gouna International Squash Open 2026 in Egypt.
World No.1 El Hammamy survived some very anxious moments as the Indian kept her on the toes. El Hammamy won 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8.
Anahat clashes against World No.1 Hammamy in first round of El Gouna International 2026
Fresh from her dominant title run at the Optasia Championships, where she did not drop a game, El Hammamy faced a tricky opponent in the form of 18-year-old Singh, whose unpredictable attacking patterns caused El Hammamy problems throughout.
Anahat keeps pace with her rival
Anahat Singh, who won the JSW Indian Open in Mumbai recently, kept pace with her more illustrious rival and did not let go any opportunity. However, El Hammamy was just too good for the Indian.
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At 4-0 up in the third game, El Hammamy looked to be home and dry, but Singh showed great character to claw her way back into the contest with a string of stunning winners, winning nine of the next 10 points. Despite El Hammamy bringing the scoreline back to 10-9, Singh held on to force a fourth game with a stunning game ball winner.
She played so well, for such a young age. It’s our first meeting on tour, and I know how dangerous she is. It was tricky for me to read her today, said Hania El Hammamy about Anahat Singh after the match. Pics: PSA Squash Tour
Singh’s deceptive attacks continued to cause El Hammamy issues as the fourth progressed, but it was the 2022 champion who held strong in the latter stages to clinch a hard-fought 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8 after 49 minutes of play.
After the match, El Hammamy said: “She played so well, for such a young age. It’s our first meeting on tour, and I know how dangerous she is. It was tricky for me to read her today.
“I’m just glad that I managed to back up after Optasia and adapt to the different glass court. So, I think it took me some time to adjust and find my length.
“I’m trying to enjoy the pressure of being World No.1 as much as I can. I’m trying to enjoy my time on court and the way I’m playing. Being at the top can easily drag you into a lot of pressure, but I’m just trying to enjoy it.”
Asal on the move
World No.1 Mostafa Asal had to be on his mettle to navigate tricky first-round test as he overcame Curtis Malik to kickstart his title quest at the Platinum-level event.
Asal began his quest for a third El Gouna title, a feat which would bring him level with legends Ramy Ashour and Ali Farag as the most decorated players in the event’s history, thanks to a hard-fought 11-7, 11-4, 13-11 win over England’s Malik on the stunning all-glass court at the El Gouna Conference and Culture Center.
The Egyptian controlled the opening two games, but World No.23 Malik responded impressively in the third, pushing up the court and matching Asal blow for blow in a tense 33-minute game. After saving two match balls to force a tie-break, Malik threatened a comeback with some high-quality squash, but Asal held firm to seal the victory in 59 minutes.
“Curtis played with some great tactics in the third,” Asal said after securing his 25th straight win on the PSA Squash Tour. “He came back strong – mentally, he is really strong. From 2-0 down, he came back, and I expected that, but not as much as he did in the third.
“I was just enjoying the squash today. It’s good to have a good first round against a tough opponent.
“It’s nice to be back in El Gouna and playing in front of my supporters. El Gouna has been really nice to me in the past,” he said.
Earlier on in the day at the El Gouna Squash Complex, a number of seeds came close to first-round scares before eventually prevailing, none more so than World No.6 Victor Crouin.
The French No.1 was forced to stave off two match balls in the fourth game of his dramatic encounter with Bernat Jaume, before once again fighting back from 6-1 down in the decider to record a 7-11, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 11-7 victory.
Men’s No.6 and No.8 seeds Youssef Ibrahim and Marwan ElShorbagy also edged through their respective round one encounters with Dimitri Steinmann and Timothy Brownell, both clinching thrillers 11-9 in the fifth.
Results (Round I): Men: 1-Mostafa Asal (EGY) beat Curtis Malik (ENG) 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 13-11), Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) beat Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-2 (11-4, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4), Leonel Cardenas (MEX) beat Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) 3-1 (11-13, 11-4, 11-8, 6-3 retd), 7-Victor Crouin (FRA) beat Bernat Jaume (ESP) 3-2 (7-11, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 11-7), 8-Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) beat Timothy Brownell (USA) 3-2 (6-11, 11-2, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9), Auguste Dussourd (FRA) beat Noor Zaman (PAK) 3-2 (11-8, 11-3, 10-12, 9-11, 11-8), Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) beat Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-1 (11-2, 7-11, 11-2, 11-4), 4-Diego Elias (PER) beat Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 12-10), 3-Karim Gawad (EGY) beat Declan James (ENG) 3-1 (11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6), Youssef Soliman (EGY) beat Mazen Hesham (EGY) 3-0 (11-5, 11-1, 12-10), 5-Joel Makin (WAL) beat Juan Vargas (COL) 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-9), Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) beat Greg Lobban (SCO) 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-8), 6-Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) beat Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 3-2 (13-11, 11-13, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9), Abhay Singh (IND) beat Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 3-2 (9-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-4, 11-8), Eain Yow Ng (MAS) beat Seif Refaay (EGY) 3-1 (4-11, 11-4, 3-0 retd), 2-Paul Coll (NZL) beat Kareem El Torkey (EGY) 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-8).
Women: 1-Hania El Hammamy (EGY) beat Anahat Singh (IND) 3-1 (11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8), Kenzy Ayman (EGY) beat Nele Gilis (BEL) 3-1 (14-12, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8), Jasmine Hutton (ENG) beat Aifa Azman (MAS) 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-6), 7-Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) beat Marina Stefanoni (USA) 3-1 (11-6, 13-11, 8-11, 11-7), 6-Satomi Watanabe (JPN) beat Talia Zakaria (EGY) 3-0 (11-4, 11-2, 11-1), Hana Moataz (EGY) beat Farida Walid (EGY) 3-1 (11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7), Rowan Elaraby (EGY) beat Lucy Turmel (ENG) 3-0 (11-8, 11-2, 11-6), 3-Amina Orfi (EGY) beat Tinne Gilis (BEL) 3-0 (11-3, 12-10, 11-6), 4-Olivia Weaver (USA) beat Tomato Ho (HKG) 3-0 (11-2, 11-6, 11-8), Farida Mohamed (EGY) beat Salma Hany (EGY) 3-1 (11-13, 11-9, 11-6, 11-2), Sana Ibrahim (EGY) beat Rachel Arnold (MAS) 3-0 (11-9, 11-2, 11-8), 8-Georgina Kennedy (ENG) beat Hana Ramadan (EGY) 3-0 (11-3, 11-5, 11-6), 5-Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) beat Nada Abbas (EGY) 3-1 (11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6), Mariam Metwally (EGY) beat Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-1 (11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 13-11), Melissa Alves (FRA) beat Georgia Adderley (SCO) 3-0 (11-8, 12-10, 11-3), 2-Nour ElSherbini (EGY) beat Malak Khafagy (EGY) 3-0 (11-2, 11-5, 11-2).
