Squash Drops Home Opening Match to Virginia

Saturday, November 22

New York, N.Y.

1:30 PM

Columbia University

Virginia

11/22/2025 8:26:00 PM | Men's Squash, Women's Squash

Women's Results Men's Results

Ahmad Haq wins his third consecutive collegiate match

NEW YORK — The Columbia men's and women's squash teams made their home debut on Saturday afternoon, taking on ACC foe Virginia. The Lions battled but fell to the Cavaliers, with the men losing 6-3 and the women losing 8-1, at SL Green StreetSquash Center.

MEN'S RECAP
No. 7 Columbia (2-1) battled through a long slate of competitive matches against No. 4 Virginia (6-0), highlighted by strong five-game performances across the ladder. Freshman Ahmad Haq secured a four-game win at No. 3, marking his third consecutive win to begin his collegiate career. Sophomore Imad Athar delivered a gritty five-game victory at No. 6 and junior Paarth Ambani swept his opponent at No. 7.

The Lions pushed several matches to the brink, including five-game efforts from junior Arhan Chandra at No. 5 and freshman Sam Du at No. 9, and a tight four-game contest from senior Franklyn Smith at No. 4.

Virginia 6, Columbia 3
1S | Juan Irisarri (VA) def. Yusuf Sheikh (CU) 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9
2S | Juan Jose Torres (VA) def. Shaurya Bawa (CU) 11-9, 11-4, 7-11, 12-10
3S | Ahmad Haq (CU) def. John Paul Tew (VA) 11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8
4S | Dylan Moran (VA) def. Franklyn Smith (CU) 8-11, 11-8, 14-12, 11-9
5S | Krishna Mishra (VA) def. Arhan Chandra (CU) 8-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6
6S | Imad Athar (CU) def. Oscar Okonkwo (VA) 7-11, 13-15, 11-7, 11-4, 5-11
7S | Paarth Ambani (CU) def. Nathan Rosenzweig (VA) 11-9, 11-6, 11-8
8S | Maxwell Velazquez (VA) def. Varun Fuloria (CU) 5-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8
9S | Ewan Harris (VA) def. Sam Du (CU) 11-8, 6-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5

WOMEN'S RECAP
No. 10 Columbia (1-1-1) faced a tough outing against the sixth-ranked Cavaliers (5-0). Junior Kaavya Bansal sealed the lone victory for the Lions. Senior Amal Izhar challenged her competition, but the attempt fell short in the fifth round.

Freshman Charlie McCrone mounted a strong comeback to force five games before narrowly falling to Maryan Mian. Junior Advita Sharma, freshman Isha Gupta, and sophomore Sophia Hu each battled through competitive matches but were unable to secure a win against the Cavaliers.

Columbia 1, Virginia 8
1S | Charlotte Pastel (VA) def. Yeheni Kuruppu (CU) 11-8, 11-2, 11-8
2S | Lina Tammam (VA) def. Eva Salzman (CU) 11-6, 11-6, 11-5
3S | Maria Min (VA) def. Amal Izhar (CU) 11-8, 11-6, 11-13, 6-11, 11-3
4S | Clare Minnis (VA) def. Eugenia Li (CU) 11-7, 11-8, 11-6
5S | Kaavya Bansal (CU) def. Nasreen Hashmi (VA)
6S | Maryam Mian (VA) def. Charlie McCrone (CU) 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 7-11, 11-4
7S | Grace Fazzinga (VA) def. Advita Sharma (CU) 11-6, 13-11, 11-0
8S | Claire Pellegrino (VA) def. Isha Gupta (CU) 11-8, 11-5, 11-5
9S | Nili Sprecher (VA) def. Sophia Hu (CU) 6-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-4

UP NEXT
Columbia returns to action on Sunday, December 7 when the Lions host Drexel. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at SL Green Streetsquash in Harlem.

FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on the Columbia squash programs, be sure to follow the teams on X and Instagram (@CULionsSquash), on Facebook (Facebook.com/ColumbiaSquash), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.