Jadishkumar & Salem Secure Career-Best Wins to Advance To Egyptian Open Last 16

Unseeded duo Ruqayya Salem and Yasshmita Jadishkumar continued their career-best runs at the CIB Egyptian Open 2026, recording upset wins over Tinne Gilis and Farida Mohamed to reach the last 16 of the Diamond-level event in Cairo.

Eighteen-year-old qualifier Salem, who won three matches to even secure her place in the main draw, delivered a performance of impressive maturity to defeat world No.9 Gilis by a 17-15, 4-11, 11-5, 11-9 scoreline.

The world No.55, who finished runner-up to Anahat Singh at this year's World Junior Championships, will face off against former world No.1 Nouran Gohar for a place in the quarter-finals. Victory would also earn Salem the opportunity to compete in front of the iconic Great Pyramids of Giza.

"I'm exhausted first of all; it was really physical," Salem said after the match. "Of course, never in a million years could you have told me I'd be in the third round of the Egyptian Open.

"I'm very excited to play Nouran tomorrow. She just came back on tour, and I think it's going to be a tough one. I'm looking forward to it - I'll just try to produce the best squash I can."

Meanwhile, world No.62 Jadishkumar staged a dramatic comeback to continue her superb run in the Egyptian capital, coming from 2/0 down to defeat world No.20 Farida Mohamed.

Malaysia's Jadishkumar, who received a position in the main draw as a Lucky Loser, continued to take full advantage of the opportunity presented to her, overcoming Mohamed 3-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 to set up a third-round tie with world No.6 Satomi Watanabe.

"I'm honestly so speechless," Jadishkumar said after the match. "I don't know what to say. I cannot believe I won that.

"If I can beat Farida today, I don't know what else I can do, so I'm just going to give my all."

Elsewhere, men's World No.5 Victor Crouin battled back from 2/0 down, match ball down, to survive a huge scare against India's Velavan Senthilkumar.

The Frenchman, a recent finalist at the Qatar Classic, had to draw upon all his reserves to come through the dramatic second-round encounter by an 8-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-7 scoreline after 78 minutes of play.

Defending champions Mostafa Asal and Hania El Hammamy also got their title defences underway with well-earned wins on the stunning all-glass court at O West Sporting Club.

Asal battled past a spirited showing from Malaysian qualifier Joachim Chuah in four games, while El Hammamy overcame a sluggish start to defeat compatriot Nadien Elhammamy 13-11, 12-10, 11-4.