Latest news with #NoorZaman
Express Tribune
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Pak bags silver in Asian Doubles Squash final
Pakistan's Noor Zaman (far left) and and Nasir Iqbal (second from left) pose with Indian players Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar after the final of the Asian Doubles Squash in Kuching, Malaysia. PHOTO: PSA Pakistan on Thursday secured silver medal at the Asian Doubles Squash Championship after a valiant performance in the men's doubles final, where they went down 2-1 to arch-rivals India who bagged the gold medal after successfully defending the title in Malaysia. The Pakistani duo of Noor Zaman and Nasir Iqbal fought hard but eventually succumbed to the Indian pair of Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar, who successfully defended their Asian title with a 9-11, 11-5, 11-5 victory. The intense final lasted one hour and 27 minutes. It is pertinent to mention that Zaman and Iqbal had delivered an impressive campaign en route to the final. In the semifinals on Wednesday, the pair edged past host nation Malaysia in a tightly contested three-game match, winning 10-11, 11-9, 11-9 in a clash that stretched to one hour and eight minutes. They overcame Malaysia's experienced duo of Syafiq Kamal and Duncan Lee to book their place in the final. Earlier, Pakistan earned a 2-1 victory over Korea in the quarterfinals. The Iqbal-Zaman pair emerged victorious in another thrilling contest against Jiang Min Ryu and Jaijin Yoo, with game scores of 11-3, 5-11, 11-4. The Pakistani team also performed strongly in the group stage, where they secured qualification to the knockouts with a comprehensive win over Chinese Taipei. Nasir and Noor dispatched Chi Yu-Wei and Chen Ching-Fu in straight sets, 11-2, 11-9, in just 11 minutes. Seeded second in the tournament, Pakistan started their campaign on Monday with dominant wins over the Philippines (11-7, 11-4) and South Korea, showcasing consistent form throughout the championship. Individually, Noor Zaman had previously competed in the Asian Individual Squash Championship, where he bowed out in the pre-quarterfinals after a hard-fought five-game battle against Malaysia's Joachim Chuah. Battling a back spasm, Zaman lost the first two games 3-11, 3-11, made a comeback by taking the next two 11-3, 12-10, but eventually fell 2-11 in the decider.
Business Recorder
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Business Recorder
Pakistan bags silver after tough loss to India in Asian Doubles Squash Championship final
Pakistan clinched the silver medal in the Asian Doubles Squash Championship after a hard-fought defeat to India in the men's doubles final held in Malaysia. In a thrilling contest that lasted 1 hour and 27 minutes, the Pakistani duo of Noor Zaman and Nasir Iqbal went down 2-1 to India's Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar. The Indian pair bounced back after losing the first game, eventually winning the match with scores of 9-11, 11-5, and 11-5. Despite a strong start, the Pakistani side was unable to hold off the Indian comeback, settling for second place in the prestigious regional tournament. The final showcased high-level competition between the arch-rivals, reflecting the growing intensity and talent in Asian squash.
Express Tribune
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Pakistani duo advance to knockouts at Asian Squash Championship
Pakistan's Noor Zaman and Nasir Iqbal stormed into the quarterfinals of the Asian Doubles Squash Championship on June 24, following a commanding straight-games victory over Chinese Taipei. The duo made light work of their final group-stage opponents, defeating Chi Yu-Wei and Chen Ching-Fu 11–2, 11–9 in just 11 minutes to top Group B. With the win, they secured a place in the quarterfinals, where they were set to face South Korea later the same day. Zaman and Iqbal have remained unbeaten throughout the group stage, starting their campaign on Monday with two comprehensive victories. They opened with an 11–4, 11–1 win over South Korea, before overpowering the Philippines 11–7, 11–4 in their second match. Their consistent form has helped Pakistan finish at the top of their group, which also included teams from the Philippines, Singapore, and South Korea. The championship format features round-robin group matches over the first two days, followed by knockout rounds beginning on 25 June. The finals in the men's, women's and mixed doubles categories are scheduled for 26 June. Team coach Fahim Gul and contingent manager Amir Nawaz have been guiding the squad through the tournament in Kuching, where Pakistan now aims to continue its winning run in the knockout phase.
Express Tribune
30-05-2025
- Sport
- 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.
Arab News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Pakistan's Noor Zaman revives family legacy with epic Under-23 world squash championship comeback
PESHAWAR: Noor Zaman found himself on the brink of defeat after losing the first two games to his Egyptian counterpart in the final of the Under-23 Men's World Squash Championship in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi this month. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The 21-year-old faced a moment of truth in front of a roaring home crowd and decided he could not lose the world championship Pakistan was hosting for the first time in 30 years and what followed was an epic comeback from Zaman to beat Egypt's Karim El Turky 3-2. His victory was not just a personal milestone but a symbolic moment for Pakistani squash, a sport once dominated by legends like Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan, and Zaman's own grandfather, Qamar Zaman. 'When I got 2-0 down, only one thing was coming to my mind that 'a world championship is being held in Pakistan after three decades, the whole crowd is sitting here to support me, if I lose, I will regret it a lot',' Zaman recalled. 'I thought to myself that 'all the hard work I have done in the past three, four months to prepare for this tournament, I should go to the court and fight for every single point.' Thank God, I fought for every point and Allah made me the world champion.' Zaman, who hails from the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, says for him, squash was more of an obligation than a passion. 'When I was young, I used to be taken for playing squash [by my grandfather]. I was not as passionate in childhood,' he said. But with time, the sport became his calling. Zaman's ascent began with two consecutive Asian Junior Championship titles last year, followed by a silver medal at the Asian Games after graduating to the senior category. The Under-23 World Squash Championship saw participation from 32 countries, with Zaman defeating opponents from Kuwait, Poland, France, and Malaysia on his path to the final. Zaman defeated 3-0 the players he had narrowly contested against as a junior, which was a testament to his growing dominance in the game. His final opponent, Egypt's El Turky, pushed him to the limit, but Zaman staged a spirited comeback, cheered on by an electrifying crowd in Karachi. But there has hardly been any official recognition of Zaman's feat. 'Everyone congratulated me — government officials, seniors, everyone — but no one has yet invited me for any honors,' he shared. The 21-year-old remains grounded, driven by the legacy of his grandfather who continues to nurture talent in Peshawar by organizing regular tournaments. 'This is our family game and all the players emerging from Peshawar are emerging because of him, because of his support,' Noor said. 'He organizes 2-3 tournaments every month, which gives motivation to kids and they improve further.' Zaman's victory in the Under-23 championship has earned him a direct wildcard entry to next month's Senior World Championship in Chicago. The young Pakistani squash star is hopeful of not just carrying forward his family's legacy, but also helping his country reclaim its former glory in the sport. 'God willing, now, I am going to play the Senior World Championship, [and] the goal is to become the Senior World Champion,' he said.
