
Pakistan's Noor Zaman wins U23 World Squash Championship at DHA Creek Club
Noor Zaman of Pakistan won the Under-23 World Squash Championship, defeating Egypt's Karim El Turky 3-2 in a hard-fought final at Karachi's DA Creek Club.
Pakistan's Noor Zaman secured the Under-23 World Squash Championship title after a 3-2 victory over Egypt's Karim El Turky in the men's final, held at the DA Creek Club in Karachi.
Zaman, who credited his success to hard work and divine favour, brought home the gold medal following a tense and closely contested match.
In the women's event, top-seeded Fairooz Aboulkheir of Egypt emerged victorious after a straight-set win against Hong Kong's fourth seed, Chan Sin Yuk, clinching the title with a 3-0 result.
Both champions received a gold medal, the winners' trophy, and a prize of $5,250 each. The runners-up were awarded silver medals and $3,450 apiece.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Zaman for his win, praising him for raising Pakistan's profile in international sport. 'The entire nation is proud. God willing, Pakistan will reclaim its lost glory in squash,' he stated.
Delighted to see our homegrown talent, Noor Zaman, storm into the men's final of the Under-23 World Squash Championships with an astounding 3-0 victory 🏆
Also, great performance by Muhammad Ammad and Amna Fayyaz in the plate events! #PrideOfPakistan #FutureChampions — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 10, 2025
President Asif Ali Zardari also extended congratulations, lauding Zaman for his performance throughout the tournament and expressing hope for his continued success in the future.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah attended the closing ceremony as the president's representative and hailed the event as a milestone in squash history. 'Hosting the inaugural U23 World Squash Championship is an honour for Pakistan,' Shah said.
He emphasised squash's historic value in Pakistan and reiterated the government's commitment to nurturing young talent and restoring the country's legacy in the sport. Shah also acknowledged the efforts of the Pakistan Squash Federation, Sindh government, DHA, and the Pakistan Air Force in promoting squash.
The championship marked a significant moment in Pakistan's squash revival, with local authorities and the World Squash Federation expressing optimism about the sport's future in the region.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
30-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Noor Zaman qualifies for British Open Squash Championship main round
Pakistan's Noor Zaman has qualified for the main draw of the British Open Squash Championship, continuing his strong performance on the professional circuit. The reigning World Under-23 Squash champion secured his place in the prestigious England tournament after defeating Egypt's Kareem El Torkey 11-5, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7 in a 46-minute qualifying final. Result: GillenMarkets British Open 2025 Men's Qualifying Finals 🇵🇰 Noor Zaman beats [3] Kareem El Torkey 🇪🇬 3-1: 11-5, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7 (46m)#BritishOpen — British Open (@BritOpenSquash) May 29, 2025 Earlier, Zaman defeated England's Will Salter 3-1 (10-12, 11-2, 11-5, 11-3) in 42 minutes, followed by a thrilling 3-1 victory over Adrian Waller (9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 14-12) in a 59-minute match. Zaman, seeded 10th in the qualifiers, is the first Pakistani player to reach the British Open main round since 2022. He will face England's Curtis Malik in the first round on Sunday. Tayyab Aslam was the last Pakistani to compete in the main draw in 2022. Pakistan holds the record for the most British Open titles — 30 in total — including 10 won by legendary Jahangir Khan. Zaman's consistent performances underscore his rising prominence in international squash.


Express Tribune
28-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Namibia to play South Africa for first time
Namibia will host South Africa for a historic first meeting between the two sides to mark the official opening of their new ground in Windhoek. The one-off T20I will take place on October 11. Importantly, it will commemorate the opening of Cricket Namibia's first official stadium - previously internationals took place at the Wanderers, also in Windhoek, which is a club ground. The new ground will host the matches during the 2026 Under-19 Men's World Cup and the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup. Namibia is the co-host for the Under-19 World Cup with Zimbabwe and for the ODI World Cup with Zimbabwe and South Africa. The ground has been under construction since 2021 and will have a capacity of 7000. It is also the home of Namibia's high-performance centre. "This truly is a memorable occasion," Johann Muller, Cricket Namibia CEO, said in a statement. "The new ground has been a dream for the last four years and has finally materialised. A match against our neighbours, and one of the top cricketing countries in the world, is the perfect way to open this world-class facility." Despite being neighbours, South Africa have never played an international against Namibia, at bilateral or tournament level, and the trip across the western border indicates the growth in relations in cricket on the continent. South Africa and Zimbabwe are both playing a significant role at the African Cricket Association and there are talks of increased fixtures, such as this one, to grow the game. South Africa will also travel to Zimbabwe for the first time in 11 years later this year to play two Tests and a T20I tri-series. "We are honoured to be part of this historic occasion," Pholesti Moseki, CSA CEO, said. "Namibia are a competitive side, and this fixture reflects the growing strength of cricket on the continent. As a fellow African cricketing nation and the host of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, we are proud to support the official opening of this new cricket ground, which will be one of the host venues of the tournament." By the time the match takes place, Namibia will have also competed in the Africa T20 World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, where there are two spots available for next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Namibia have played in the last three T20 World Cups, and their highest profile win was over Sri Lanka in Geelong in 2022.


Express Tribune
18-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Pakistan's Ashab Irfan wins St. Louis Open 2025 squash championship
Pakistan's emerging squash talent Ashab Irfan claimed his first major international title at the St. Louis Open 2025, defeating England's Charlie Lee in straight sets in the final of the RC Pro Series event held in Missouri. Irfan, 20, delivered a dominant performance to secure a 3-0 victory in just 37 minutes, with set scores of 11-7, 11-2, and 11-7. Ranked 66th in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Rankings prior to the tournament, Irfan showcased exceptional precision, agility and control, leaving Lee unable to mount a challenge throughout the match. The $15,000 PSA event drew participation from more than 30 players and marked a significant milestone in Irfan's young career. 'This victory is a testament to Ashab's relentless hard work, passion, and resilience,' said coach Irfan Jahanzeb Masood following the match. 'We give thanks to Allah for this blessing. It's not just a personal milestone — it's a sign of a bright future for Pakistani squash.' Masood confirmed that the win is expected to push Irfan into the PSA top 60, projecting a move from 66th to 57th in the rankings. The improvement could enable Irfan to qualify for higher-tier international competitions and solidify his status among the sport's rising stars. 'We are profoundly grateful for the unwavering encouragement from Ashab's family and fans,' Masood added. 'Their belief in his potential has been a constant source of motivation throughout this journey.' The win has also been hailed by the Pakistan Squash Federation as a major boost for the country's prospects on the global squash circuit, with officials calling it a moment of pride for Pakistani sport.