Returning squash champs know it will be tough to defend titles

Egyptian world No. 1 Ali Farag and Belgium's fifth-ranked Nele Coll will be returning to the Republic to defend their titles at the Nov 19-24 Vitagen Singapore Squash Open, organisers announced on Oct 10.

- Kimberly Kwek

Four-time world champion Farag has yet to triumph on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Squash Tour in the 2024-25 season and will be hoping to get back to winning ways with back-to-back titles in Singapore.

“Singapore holds a special place for me after last year's win, and I'm looking forward to defending my title in front of the fans,” said Farag, who has had two runner-up finishes this season.

“The competition will be fierce once again, but I'm ready for the challenge.”

The US$220,000 (S$287,900) PSA World Tour Gold event at the OCBC Arena will showcase 48 of the world's top men and women's squash players.

Other top 10 stars competing in the men's draw are New Zealand's world No. 3 Paul Coll, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion, and Peru's reigning world champion and world No. 4 Diego Elias, who finished second in the previous two editions of the Singapore event.