World U-23 Squash Championships Opened in Karachi as Pakistan Stars Shine
The inaugural World Under-23 Squash Championships have officially begun in Karachi, bringing top young squash players from around the globe to compete for international glory.
Strong Starts for Noor Zaman and Hamza Khan
Pakistan’s Noor Zaman and Mohammad Hamza Khan made a winning start in the tournament’s opening round.
- Noor Zaman, the tournament’s second seed, beat Kuwait’s Hussain Alzaatari 3-1.
- Scores: 11-6, 5-11, 11-4, 11-3
- He bounced back confidently after losing the second game.
- Hamza Khan dominated Romania’s Radu Stefan Pena in straight games.
- Scores: 11-3, 11-1, 11-5
- His win secured a place in the Round of 16.
Muhammad Ammad Faces Narrow Defeat
Muhammad Ammad, also representing Pakistan, exited the tournament after a tight five-game battle against Malaysia’s Ameeshenraj Chandaran.
- Scores: 10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8
- Despite an aggressive start, Ammad couldn’t hold off the Malaysian comeback.
Women’s Singles: Early Exit for Pakistan
All three Pakistani women squash players were eliminated in the first round of the tournament:
- Mariam Malik lost to Spain’s Noa Romero Blazquez
- Scores: 11-3, 11-2, 11-4
- Amna Fayyaz was defeated by Japan’s Kurumi Takahashi
- Scores: 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 11-9
- Sana Bahadar fell to Czech Republic’s Tamara Holzbauerová
- Scores: 13-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8
Top Seed Ibrahim Elkabbani Survives a Scare
Egypt’s top-seeded Ibrahim Elkabbani had a challenging start but managed to move past Poland’s Leon Krysiak.
- Scores: 11-2, 9-11, 12-10, 11-2
- Elkabbani regained momentum after a close third game.
Next Up: Round of 16
- The Round of 16 matches are scheduled for Monday.
- The tournament continues to highlight emerging talent in global squash.
