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Zein Defends Her Title on the Grand Central Stage
The women’s final at the 2026 CSA Individual Championships delivered a showcase worthy of the stage, as Zeina Zein (Princeton) faced Caroline Fouts (Harvard) in a highly anticipated championship match.
Zein, the defending 2025 CSA Individual Champion, rose to the occasion once again, earning a four-game victory in 52 minutes. The scoreline read 11-8, 12-10, 5-11, 14-12 in a match defined by momentum swings, physical rallies, and composure under pressure. Zein came out strong in the opening game, establishing an early lead and controlling the tempo with precise, confident squash to take it 11-8.
The second game featured multiple momentum shifts, with both players trading long points before Zein held her nerve in extra points to claim it 12-10. Fouts responded decisively in the third, refocusing and asserting herself early. She built and maintained a commanding lead to take the game 11-5 and push the match into a fourth.
The final game was tightly contested from start to finish, with neither player able to separate as the crowd leaned into every rally. The game extended into overtime, where Zein once again found her best level, closing it out 14-12 to secure the match — and successfully defend her title.
With a packed and energized crowd providing a fitting championship atmosphere, Zeina Zein capped off an outstanding tournament to become a two-time CSA Individual Champion.
Congratulations to Zeina Zein on a remarkable title defense.
Hafez Claims the 2026 CSA Individual Championship
The men’s final at the 2026 CSA Individual Championships brought together two of the highest-level competitors in college squash, as Muhammad Ashab Irfan (Trinity) faced Omar Hafez (Penn). In a 65-minute showcase of elite shot-making and relentless retrieving, Hafez emerged victorious in four games, winning 11-5, 11-9, 6-11, 11-3. Anticipation surrounding the final was high. Hafez entered the match as last year’s finalist, having fallen to his Penn teammate Salman Khalil in the 2025 championship. Throughout this season, Hafez has anchored the Penn lineup at the No. 1 position and arrived in the final playing outstanding squash.
Across the court, Irfan brought an equally compelling résumé — a top-50 PSA World Tour ranking, a January arrival at Trinity, and a statement win over Khalil earlier this season in his first weekend of college squash during the Penn–Trinity dual.From the opening rally, the match delivered the highest standard of the collegiate game.
Both players consistently hit tight targets and displayed exceptional movement and defensive skills. Hafez came out laser-focused, playing clean, disciplined squash to take the opening game 11-5. The second game saw Ashab find his rhythm and raise the pace, but Hafez remained composed under pressure.
The game concluded with a heavy collision that briefly left Hafez on the floor, though he closed out the second game 11-9. Ashab returned in the third, taking control early and maintaining his advantage through a series of closely contested rallies. His attacking play paid off as he claimed the game 11-6 to extend the match.
In the fourth, Hafez reasserted himself immediately, opening up a commanding early lead while playing with renewed focus and authority. A sequence of lose shots from Ashab leading to stroke decisions midway through the game helped extend the margin, and the closing rallies showcased world-class squash from both players. Hafez sealed the match with an emphatic 11-3 finish.
Congratulations to Omar Hafez on an outstanding performance and a well-earned 2026 CSA Individual Championship title.
The Photo Gallery From the Tournament can be found here.
