Published: April 7, 2026 at 12:31 pm
Abhay Singh, fresh off his victory at the JSW Indian Open 2026, stretched No.6 seed Youssef Ibrahim before going down on day three of the El Gouna International Squash Open in Egypt.
Two days on from his thrilling five-game win over Dimitri Steinmann, Egypt’s World No.7 Ibrahim delivered another dramatic affair as he advanced to the quarterfinals of the Platinum-level event by a 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8 scoreline over India’s Abhay Singh.
Ibrahim continued to nurse the shoulder injury which has restrained his movements for large portions of this season and even admitted after the match that he was close to not competing this week by the Red Sea.
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However, the 27-year-old drew off the home support to twice come from behind and book his spot in his fifth major final of the 2025/26 season.
Abhay was quickly off the blocks as he cruised to a 11-7 win before Ibrahim hit back to win the second one at 11-9. Abhay fought back and took the third game 11-9 to go 2-1 up. However, Ibrahim won the next two games to move into the quarterfinals.
Karim gets past Soliman
No.3 seed Karim Gawad too came back from behind to defeat Youssef Soliman. World No.4 Gawad had to call on all his experience to battle back from 2-1 down to clinch a 109-minute epic against his compatriot Soliman by a 5-11, 14-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9 scoreline.
In a deciding game which saw Soliman come from 6-1 down to level at 7-7 and later 9-9, it was former World No.1 Gawad who ultimately had the edge in the pressure moments.
World No.2 Paul Coll saw off a strong start from Malaysian No.1 Eain Yow Ng to reach the quarterfinals by an 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 scoreline. Pics: PSA Squash Tour
Coll sees off Ng
World No.2 Paul Coll saw off a strong start from Malaysian No.1 Eain Yow Ng to reach the quarterfinals by an 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 scoreline.
World No.18 Ng began the match with a clear game plan to jump up the court and push the tempo whenever possible. Initially, this tactic paid dividends as he moved to 7-7 on the scoreboard with the No.2 seed, however Coll raised his levels to win four straight points and move a game to the good.
Coll moved through the gears in the second game, taking the ball early and putting Ng under severe pressure all across the court. After dropping just two points in a one-sided second game, Coll continued on his victory march after racing into a 5-1 lead.
However, Ng got stuck in during the second phase of this game, refusing to go down without a fight and bringing himself within two points of Coll at 10-8 down. Clinching the third game ultimately proved a step too far, though, with Coll wrapping up the win after 47 minutes of play.
Zakaria shuts out Makin
World No.8 Mohamad Zakaria avenged his recent defeat to Joel Makin at the Australian Open with a quality three-game victory over the No.5 seed at the El Gouna International.
The two-time World Junior Champion delivered a performance of great maturity to defeat the Welshman by an 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 scoreline.
World No.8 Mohamad Zakaria avenged his recent defeat to Joel Makin at the Australian Open with a quality three-game victory over the No.5 seed at the El Gouna International
After epic 125-minute and 108-minute battles between the pair at the recent New Zealand Open and Australian Open went one a piece, Zakaria came through this match in more commanding fashion, advancing to the quarter-finals after 64 minutes of play.
In both the first and second games, the 18-year-old picked his punches smartly, building pressure with tight lines down both wings and taking the right times to go in short.
From 5-5 in the first, Zakaria moved through to an 11-6 win after 20 minutes, before rallying from 5-1 down in the second with 10 straight points to double his advantage.
The two players continued to trade high-quality rallies in the third game, but it was Zakaria who once again opened up a buffer on the scoreboard, leading the Welshman 8-4. From there, the teenager wasn’t to be stopped, setting up a quarterfinal tie with No.3 seed Karim Gawad.
ElSherbini cruises into quarters
In the women’s section, World No.2 Nour ElSherbini looked in imposing form as she cruised into the quarterfinals after defeating Melissa Alves. The eight-time World Champion delivered a sharp, accurate performance from the first to last point of the match, easing into the last eight by an 11-3, 11-3, 11-7 scoreline.
‘The Warrior Princess’ peppered the front two corners with regularity across a pair of 11-3 opening game wins.
Olivia weaves past Farida
World No.4 Olivia Weaver saw off an inspired start from Egypt’s Farida Mohamed to advance to the quarterfinals in four games.
World No.2 Nour ElSherbini looked in imposing form as she cruised into the quarterfinals after defeating Melissa Alves
After a quick-fire start from Mohamed saw her move a game up with some superbly controlled attacking squash, and injury for the World No.17 when 10-8 down in the second changed the course of the match.
Mohamed was forced to call for the physio with a foot injury, and after not returning to the court in time after the allotted period of time, Weaver was handed a conduct point to level the match at 1-1.
Mohamed still looked shaky with her movements in the subsequent third game, which Weaver raced through 11-4 to within a game of victory.
Anahat gives top seed El Hammamy a mighty scare before succumbing to the Egyptian
A more even fourth game followed, with Mohamed and Weaver trading points to 7-7. It was No.4 seed Weaver who pushed ahead, though, when a potential deciding game looked on the line, winning four of the next five points to seal victory.
Georgina downs Sana
England’s Georgina Kennedy continued her blemish-free start to the 2026 El Gouna International after defeating Sana Ibrahim in a hard-fought three-game duel.
World No.10 Kennedy, who arrives in El Gouna on the back of an impressive run to the semifinals of the Optasia Championships, continued her fine form thanks to an 11-6, 13-11, 11-6 victory over the World No.18.
Results: Men: 3-Karim Gawad (EGY) beat Youssef Soliman (EGY) 3-2 (5-11, 14-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9), Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) beat 5-Joel Makin (WAL) 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-5), 6-Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) beat Abhay Singh (IND) 3-2 (7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8), 2-Paul Coll (NZL) beat Eain Yow Ng (MAS) 3-0 (11-7, 11-2, 11-8).
Women: 4-Olivia Weaver (USA) beat Farida Mohamed (EGY) 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-8), 8-Georgina Kennedy (ENG) beat Sana Ibrahim (EGY) 3-0 (11-6, 13-11, 11-6), 5-Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) w/o Mariam Metwally (EGY), 2-Nour ElSherbini (EGY) beat Melissa Alves (FRA) 3-0 (11-3, 11-3, 11-7).
