Indian Open Squash 2026: Om Semwal's Sensational Upset Steals the Show on Opening Day
In a thrilling display of grit and determination, India's Om Semwal delivered a blockbuster upset on the opening day of the Indian Open 2026, held at the CCI Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. The 22-year-old, ranked 223rd in the world, stunned higher-ranked Mexican Sebastian Salazar, who is world No. 109, in a gripping five-game encounter that captivated spectators.
Semwal's Heroic Comeback Against Salazar
According to reports from Olympics.com, Semwal showcased remarkable composure under immense pressure during the match. After taking an early lead, he faced a fierce comeback from Salazar, who pushed the contest to a decisive fifth game. In a dramatic finish, Semwal saved five match balls before sealing the victory with a final score of 3-2: 11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 10-12, 19-17. The intense battle lasted 72 minutes, marking one of the biggest wins in Semwal's burgeoning career and setting a high bar for the tournament.
Other Notable Matches and Results
The opening day featured several other compelling matches across both men's and women's categories. Egypt's Yassin Shohdy staged a strong comeback to defeat France's Manuel Paquemar 3-1, recovering from a narrow loss in the first game to dominate the latter stages. In the women's draw, Switzerland's Ambre Allinckx overcame the Netherlands' Tessa ter Sluis with a 3-1 victory, while Egypt's Ibrahim Elkabbani defeated India's Suraj Kumar Chand by the same margin.
Straight-game victories were also recorded by Hong Kong China's Wong Chi Him, Spain's Sofia Mateos, Matthew Lai, and Danielle Ray, who all advanced with relative ease. The results underscored the competitive depth of the event, with emerging talents making their mark alongside established players.
Indian Contenders and Tournament Significance
Several top Indian players, including reigning women's champion Anahat Singh, Asian Games medallist Abhay Singh, Veer Chotrani, Joshna Chinappa, and Ramit Tandon, are set to begin their campaigns on Thursday after receiving first-round byes. Their participation adds to the excitement as the tournament progresses.
The Indian Open 2026 serves as a crucial stop on the professional squash circuit, especially with the sport building momentum ahead of its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. This event provides a platform for both emerging and established athletes to showcase their skills and gain valuable ranking points.
Complete Day 1 Results
Women's Round 1:
- Breanne Flynn (IRL) bt. Lea Barbeau (FRA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-2, 14-12 (29m)
- Ambre Allinckx (SUI) bt. Tessa ter Sluis (NED) 3-1: 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (34m)
- Sofia Mateos (ESP) bt. Shameena Riaz (IND) 3-0: 11-2, 11-8, 11-4 (21m)
- Elise Romba (FRA) bt. Risa Sugimoto (JPN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 (19m)
- Danielle Ray (CAN) bt. Rathika Suthanthira Seelan (IND) 3-0: 11-8, 11-3, 11-5 (23m)
- Tanvi Khanna (IND) bt. Maya Weishar (GER) 3-1: 15-13, 12-10, 7-11, 11-4 (37m)
- Farida Walid (EGY) bt. Nirupama Dubey (IND) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 (19m)
- Sehveetrraa Kumar (MAS) bt. Unnati Tripathi (IND) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 (18m)
Men's Round 1:
- Chi Him Wong (HKG) bt. Ayaan Vaziralli (IND) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 (27m)
- Yannik Omlor (GER) bt. Yash Fadte (IND) 3-0: 13-11, 11-9, 12-10 (48m)
- Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY) bt. Suraj Kumar Chand (IND) 3-1: 12-14, 11-4, 11-1, 11-6 (48m)
- Om Semwal (IND) bt. Sebastian Salazar (MEX) 3-2: 11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 10-12, 19-17 (72m)
- Matthew Lai (HKG) bt. Mohammad Syafiq Kamal (MAS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 (36m)
- Yassin Shohdy (EGY) bt. Manuel Paquemar (FRA) 3-1: 10-12, 13-11, 11-5, 11-7 (48m)
- Duncan Lee (MAS) bt. Ravindu Laksiri (SRI) 3-1: 9-11, 11-1, 11-5, 11-5 (38m)
- Ameeshenraj Chandaran (MAS) bt. Naoki Hayashi (JPN) 3-1: 8-11, 13-11, 11-4, 11-9 (54m)
The Indian Open 2026 continues to unfold with high-stakes matches, promising more excitement as players vie for supremacy in this prestigious tournament.
