SARAWAK, Malaysia: Pakistan’s premier squash duo, Noor Zaman and Nasir Iqbal, delivered a commanding performance at the 3rd Asian Doubles Squash Championships 2026, overpowering arch-rivals India in the pool stage before mounting a stunning comeback against South Korea to secure a coveted spot in the semi-finals.
The Pakistani pair, dubbed as Pakistan Team One, entered their Pool B clash against India’s Rahul Baitha and Suraj Chand with an unbeaten streak and showed no signs of slowing down.
PAKISTAN TEAM REACHES SEMIFINALS AT 3RD ASIAN DOUBLES SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026
Noor Zaman & Nasir Iqbal have entered the Semifinals of the 3rd Asian Doubles Squash Championships 2026 while Muhammad Hamza Khan & Muhammad Asim Khan lost their Quarterfinal match.
Quarterfinal… pic.twitter.com/ZMfLeG73xW
— Muneeb Farrukh (@Muneeb313_) June 19, 2026
In a one-sided encounter that lasted a mere 24 minutes, Noor and Nasir registered a comprehensive straight-game victory, outclassing their traditional rivals 11-5 and 11-9 to cap off a flawless pool-stage campaign.
The emphatic win propelled them into the quarter-finals, where they faced South Korea’s Oh Seojin and Lee Minwoo in what proved to be a stern test of their title credentials. The Koreans drew first blood, clinching the opening game narrowly by 12-10, putting Pakistan on the back foot.
However, the experienced Pakistani duo regrouped with remarkable composure, producing an astounding turnaround by dominating the next two games 11-4 and 11-2 respectively to seal a come-from-behind victory and book their place in the last four, scheduled for Saturday.
Pakistan’s second team bows out
While the first team celebrated their progression, Pakistan’s second pair of Muhammad Hamza Khan and Muhammad Asim Khan endured a heartbreaking exit from the tournament. The duo made a spirited start to their quarter-final against Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeeva and Duncan Lee, comfortably winning the opening game 11-4.
However, they could not sustain their momentum as the Malaysian pair fought back to clinch the subsequent games 11-9 and 11-7, completing a hard-fought 2-1 victory that ended Pakistan’s second team’s title aspirations.
Squash enthusiasts across Pakistan will now pin their hopes on Noor and Nasir as they prepare for Saturday’s semi-final showdown, aiming to bring home the championship trophy and continue the nation’s proud legacy in the sport.
