Key points
- Three sisters represented Pakistan at Australian Junior Open 2025
- Mahnoor and Mehwish claim championship titles
- Azaan Ali Khan has lifted the Boys Under-17 title
ISLAMABAD: In a landmark achievement for Pakistan squash, the country’s young stars bagged four gold medals and one silver at the Australian Junior Open on Thursday.
Mahnoor Ali, Mehwish Ali, and Sehrish Ali represented Pakistan in different girls’ categories, with Mahnoor and Mehwish claiming championship titles.
Mahnoor Ali has dominated the Girls Under-13 final, defeating Ryo Kuwabata in straight sets with scores of 11-2, 11-5 and 11-6, earning her first global title. Her elder sister, Mehwish Ali, went on to win the Girls Under-17 category, overcoming Aideen Elmajo with a commanding performance of 11-5, 11-5 and 11-7. Their younger sister, Sehrish Ali, reached the Under-15 final but lost after a closely contested match, finishing as runner-up.
Pakistan’s squash revival
In the boys’ contest, Azaan Ali Khan has lifted the Boys Under-17 title after defeating Henry Cross in a dominant straight-set win, 3-0. In the Boys Under-11 category, Ahmed Ali Naz bagged another title for Pakistan by beating Freddie Goldsmith in a spirited final.
The success of Pakistani players in various categories marks a significant achievement for the country’s squash revival at the junior level.
The players are now being hailed by the squash community and national sporting bodies and fans for their outstanding performances and commitment to the sport for Pakistan.
According to a press release of the Pakistan Squash Federation, after a thrilling comeback, Noor Zaman has brought home the ultimate prize. The No.2 seed stunned everyone by turning the tables on Kareem El Torkey, winning 3-2 (5-11, 12-14, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6) in the U23 World Squash Championship Men’s Final.
According to the website of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), squash is the only individual game in which Pakistan has made its presence felt at the global level by making unbeatable records.
An era of domination
The squash makes Pakistan famous around the world as for the better part of five decades, the South Asian nation has completely dominated the game. Pakistan won over 30 British Open titles, 14 World Open titles, and many PSA professional titles between 1950 and 1997.
The player who put Pakistan on the world squash map was Hashim Khan who baffled the world with his artistry, wizardry, and incredible speed inside the squash court.
According to the PSF website, Hashim Khan went on to found a dynasty that dominated the squash world for about three decades.
The names of such great maestros Azam Khan, Roshan Khan, Mohibullah, Qamar Zaman, Jahangir Khan, and Jansher Khan created history in the world of squash
