Pakistan's hopes rest on Noor Zaman at U23 World Squash Championship

Local squash enthusiasts were left disappointed as their hopes for an all-Pakistani semi-final in the inaugural U23 World Squash Championship were dashed on Tuesday at the Defence Authority Creek Club in Karachi.

Hamza Khan, one of the promising young players, lost 3-1 to Malaysia's Ameeshenraj Chandaran in the quarter-finals. Khan couldn't quite match Chandaran's skill and strategy on the court and his case was not helped by a plethora of unforced errors.

However, Hamza’s fellow Pakistani player Noor Zaman proved to be a silver lining, qualifying for the semi-finals after defeating France's Melvil Scianimanico 3-0.

Zaman's impressive performance showcases his growing prowess in the squash world. His journey in the championship has been pretty impressive, having previously overcome Kuwait's Hussain Alzaatari 3-1 and Poland's Jakub Pytlowany 3-0.

Noor will face Chandaran in the semi-final tomorrow at 3:30pm (PST).

Fahim disappointed with Hamza

Speaking after the match, Pakistan’s coach Fahim Gul was not impressed with Hamza’s performance and urged the youngster to put in the hard yards in training if he wants to become a better player.

Hamza won the World Junior Squash Championship held in Melbourne, Australia, in 2023 but has failed to do much of note since that elusive achievement.

“I was expecting an all-Pakistan semi-final between Hamza and Noor but Hamza failed to live up to expectations. If Hamza had remained focus during his quarter-final match, he would have easily defeated his opponent,” said Gul.

“Hamza needs to put more effort in training if he wants to improve his game,” he added.

It must be noted that six Pakistan players participated in the tournament. However, Mohammad Ammad, Amna Fayyaz, Sana Bahadur and Mariam Malik were all ousted in the first round.

Mariam Malik will face Amna Fayyaz in the women’s consolation semi-final which is an extra stage for players who lost in the main draw. Meanwhile, Mohammad Ammad will face Ernesto Revert Escutia of Spain in the men’s consolation semi-final. Both matches will be played tomorrow.

The U23 World Squash Championship in Karachi presents a timely opportunity for Pakistan to kick-start its preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

By hosting and competing in this prestigious event, Pakistan's young squash players will gain invaluable experience and exposure, which will be crucial in their development and quest to qualify for the Olympics. Squash will make its Olympic debut in LA.

For squash enthusiasts globally, Pakistan is a familiar name in the sport, thanks largely to the unparalleled success of iconic legends Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan.

Jahangir, a six-time world champion and World Squash Emeritus President, is widely regarded as the greatest male squash player of all time.

However, since the glory days of the Khan era, Pakistani squash has struggled to replicate such dominance, with a notable drought in senior world champions since Jansher's eight title win in 1996.