Improvement in rankings crucial as Pakistan's squash players target LA Olympics

Seasoned squash coach Fahim Gul is confident about Pakistani players’ participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“We have kept in mind the 2028 Olympics which is important as squash has become part of it for the first time,” Fahim told Nukta in an interview.

“So now we are preparing players also including Noor Zaman, Hamza Khan, Nasir Iqbal, Abdullah Nawaz and Mohammad Ashab Irfan. We are focusing on them so that a couple of them could blast their way into the Olympics,” said Fahim, also a former squash player.

However, he said that it would be important for them to boost their rankings massively. Pakistan’s top-ranked player, currently, is Asim Khan, who is at 61 in the world rankings. It is a far cry from the eighties and nineties when Pakistan used to have 6 to 7 players in the top-ten world rankings.

“But they will have to improve their rankings. Look, previously even their names were not coming for the international events due to their low rankings and now their names have started coming in international events. We have also started imparting them quality training. I am confident the top bunch will improve their rankings so they could contest for the Olympics spots,” Fahim said.

Pakistani players have started boosting their rankings with the recently-held Chief of Air Staff (CAS) International Squash event winner Noor Zaman occupying 70th place.

Mohammad Ashab Irfan is at the 75th spot while seasoned campaigner Nasir Iqbal is at the 78th place.

Fahim said that they have worked very hard on the cream pool and during the last two years they have boosted their rankings as federation provided them with ample opportunities to flex their muscles in international senior circuit.

“For the last two years we have been playing top bunch at the senior level and their rankings have also been improved and we have brought them into the top 100,” Fahim said.

“Currently, we depend on Noor Zaman, Nasir Iqbal, Hamza Khan, Mohammad Ashab Irfan and a few others who we depend on at the senior level,” he said.

“We also have a couple of players in the back-up including Abdullah Nawaz and Hamza Ali Shah Bukhari and we are also working on them.

“The huge gap in the middle hurt us as our bunch, which should have been in top ten, was not focused on and they then talked to me and we have now brought them at the senior level and are fielding them in maximum events.

“We have also launched an academy at the PAF Squash Complex at Peshawar which has been upgraded with the addition of more glass walls and courts and there we are preparing so many youngsters. Our aim is to field them in the PSA events so that the long gap of few years where we were not playing our players at the senior level could be covered.”

Pakistan's Ashab Irfan (front) plays a shot against Noor Zaman during the Chief of the Air Staff International Squash Championship at Mushaf Squash Complex, Islamabad.PSF

He said that Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) is investing in the talented lot which has boosted their international exposure.

“PSF is investing a lot in squash now and you will see positive results will emerge in 2025,” Fahim hoped.

Disciplinary issues

Fahim admitted that there was discipline issue of the players which now has been overcome markedly.

“Yes, there was discipline issue of players but we have now worked on them and they have been prepared mentally and psychologically. If you are to go to such a big event like Olympics so you cannot send a boy without discipline. But we have worked on them and in future there will be no discipline issues of these players,” Fahim said.

Fahim said the PSF has also started giving tickets to the top crop for international engagements.

“Yes, there is a lack of sponsorship which has hurt squash but PSF is doing well as it has started giving tickets to the players which never happened before,” he said.

Fahim appreciated former world junior champion Hamza Khan, stressing that the youngster would need to make huge effort consistently if he is to beat the world’s top players.

“In my opinion Hamza is a world class player. But after winning the World Junior he did not continue his training. I think there is no bigger player than him but he will need to work hard consistently. He will need to make such an effort which the world’s top players do,” Fahim said.

“If he works hard then there is no way they he cannot beat Egyptians,” Fahim was quick to add.

“Now in the CAS event we beat Egyptians. There were six Egyptians. Nasir beat Egyptian in the first round, in the quarters and in the semi-final, he downed the top seed. Similarly, Noor Zaman also downed Egyptian and reached the semis. Previously our players were not in the ranking but they have started improving their rankings and now have been challenging the Egyptians,” Fahim said.

Fahim also informed that the PSF is sending its team to the WSF World Teams Championship to be held in Hong Kong from December 9-15. Asim Khan, Noor Zaman, Nasir Iqbal and Abdullah Nawaz will represent Pakistan in that event

Fahim said that the PSF also aims to develop women squash, adding in future some improvement will be made in that sector too.

“We don't have that many good quality players in women squash. Previously we had prepared a solid lot like Maria Toorpkai and Muqaddis Ashraf. During the last five to six years no such focus was on the women squash but now we have made a plan to also work on this sector and you will see some good players in future,” Fahim signed off.