Noor Zaman secures semi-final spot at Under-23 World Squash Championships

Pakistan hosted its inaugural Under-23 World Squash Championships in Karachi from April 6 to 10, 2025, featuring a men's individual draw of 32 players and a women's draw of 22 players. The tournament witnessed six Pakistani competitors, including Noor Zaman, Hamza Khan, Mariam Malik, Muhammad Ammad, and Sana Bahadur. In their opening matches, Noor defeated Kuwait's Hussain Alzaatari, while Mariam, Ammad, and Sana faced tough defeats from their opponents, marking a challenging start for the home team. Despite these setbacks, Noor Zaman's impressive performance kept Pakistan's medal hopes alive. Noor showcased remarkable skill and composure during the matches, ultimately advancing to the semis without dropping a game throughout the tournament. He beat France's Melvil Scianimanico in the quarter-finals, performing well in front of a supportive home crowd at the Creek Club. This event signifies not only the rising talent in Pakistani squash but also a strategic effort by the Pakistan Squash Federation to revitalize the country's reputation in the sport. The successful hosting of such championships aims to inspire local players and attract future international events, promising to enhance training and competitive opportunities for upcoming squash talents within Pakistan. Meanwhile, Hamza Khan, who had won the World Junior Squash Championship a couple of years back, faced an early exit from the tournament, underscoring the unpredictable nature of sports competition and the pressure on rising athletes. Overall, the championships were seen as an essential step forward for squash in Pakistan, reflecting aspirations of greatness in future competitive events.