Top squash players gather in Chicago's Union Station for international tournament

CHICAGO (CBS) -- If you've been through Union Station the past few days, you probably noticed something a little different.

CBS 2's Matt Zahn has more on the championship sporting event in the middle of the transportation hub. 

It's hard to miss the large, glass encased court in the middle of the Grand Hall. It's a squash court and the top players in the world are competing in the Professional Squash Association World Championships. 

The event includes a former champion with a pretty remarkable comeback story. 

"It's a dream that I'm living now."

That's Karim Abdel Gawad from Egypt, where he says squash is like soccer in Brazil. Gawad is a former world champion and number one ranked player in the world, who nearly had his career cut short by a foot injury that left in a wheelchair for four months.

"When I was injured, I couldn't even walk like a normal person. My first dream was just to walk as a normal person. Didn't have in mind that I'll come back to play sports or not. I just wanted to live my life without pain," Abdel said.

His injury was extremely rare, one in a million. He said doctors told him. Basically, there was a gap in the pad of his heel that protects the bone when you land.

"Every time I landed, I just landed on the bone itself, so it was very painful," Abdel said.

He went through extensive treatment during his 10 months away from the sport before eventually feeling back to close to normal. 

And amazingly was back playing only seven months after being confined to a wheelchair, and back competing for a world championship shortly after that.

"Reaching the world finals here just a dream that I'm living now, after a big doubt. I wasn't sure that I'd ever come back to play squash again. I'm very grateful for this moment playing here in the finals for sure," Abdel said.

Being healthy and at the top of his game means getting to play at special locations like this one, right in the heart of Union Station.

"It's a great location of course. We also played in Grand Central Station. Playing in a train station, historical venue like this is just amazing. Keeps you want to play more and more on the same court. That's the good thing about squash. The squash court you can put it anywhere," Abdel said.

The setup at Union Station is obviously really cool, but understandably it's not at the top of Karim's list of his favorite venues.

"For me, the pyramids of course. It has a very special moment in my heart. That's when I decided I want to play professionally," Abdel said, adding that it was an incredible experience.

"You should visit it once. It's great," Abdel said.

Fellow Egyptian Ali Farag defeated Karim Abdel Gawad in the men's championship match Thursday night at Union Station. Nour El Sherbini took home the women's title at the PSA World Championships.

In:
• Chicago
• Union Station