(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Pakistan Clinches Silver at Asian Doubles Squash Championship After Thrilling Final Against India
KARACHI: Pakistan secured a silver medal at the Asian Doubles Squash Championship on Thursday, following a spirited performance in the men’s doubles final against long-time rivals India in Malaysia.
The Pakistani pair, Noor Zaman and Nasir Iqbal, delivered a valiant effort but ultimately fell short, losing 2-1 to India’s Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar—who successfully defended their Asian title. The match ended with scores of 9-11, 11-5, 11-5 in favor of the Indian duo after a gripping one-hour and 27-minute battle.
🏅 Strong Journey to the Final
Pakistan’s journey to the final was marked by resilience and skill. In the semifinals, Zaman and Iqbal edged past host nation Malaysia in a tightly contested three-game encounter, winning 10-11, 11-9, 11-9 in a match lasting 1 hour and 8 minutes.
Their quarterfinal victory came against South Korea, where the Pakistani duo triumphed over Jiang Min Ryu and Jaijin Yoo with scores of 11-3, 5-11, 11-4.
Earlier in the group stage, Pakistan showed dominant form. They defeated Chinese Taipei’s Chi Yu-Wei and Chen Ching-Fu in straight sets, 11-2, 11-9, in just 11 minutes. The team also picked up comfortable wins over the Philippines (11-7, 11-4) and South Korea, securing their spot in the knockout stage as the second-seeded side.
🎾 Individual Highlights
Noor Zaman had also participated in the recent Asian Individual Squash Championship, where he exited in the pre-quarterfinals after a closely fought match against Malaysia’s Joachim Chuah. Battling a back spasm, Zaman made a strong comeback after dropping the first two games 3-11, 3-11, but eventually lost the fifth and final game 2-11 after evening the match at 2-2.
📸 A Proud Achievement
Despite narrowly missing out on the gold medal, the silver finish is a commendable achievement for Pakistan. Noor Zaman and Nasir Iqbal showcased their skill, determination, and teamwork throughout the tournament, further solidifying Pakistan’s presence in international squash.
Pakistan’s Noor Zaman (right) and Nasir Iqbal after the final.
The team’s performance highlights the potential of Pakistani squash on the Asian stage, and fans will be hoping this momentum carries into future championships.
