KARACHI, Pakistan: Pakistan’s Noor Zaman scripted history on Thursday by winning the inaugural WSF World U-23 Squash Championship, defeating Egypt’s Kareem El Torkey 3-2 in a gripping final at the DHA Creek Club in Karachi.
The 21-year-old from Peshawar staged a remarkable comeback after going two games down to secure a memorable 11-6, 9-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-7 victory and lift the coveted title.
With this win, Zaman became the first Pakistani to claim the U-23 World Squash Championship, rekindling hopes of a revival in the country’s storied squash legacy.
Zaman started strong, taking the opening game 11-6, but El Torkey, known for his aggressive style, bounced back to win the second and third games 9-11 and 4-11 respectively.
With the Egyptian seemingly in control, Zaman displayed remarkable composure under pressure. He edged the fourth game 11-9 and dominated the decider 11-7 to seal the championship.
“The strategy was to play without thinking about losing or winning,” Zaman said after the match.
“I focused on patience and keeping the pressure under control. The crowd support was incredible and really pushed me to give everything for Pakistan.”
Zaman had reached the final after an impressive semi-final win against Malaysia’s Ameeshenraj Chandaran.
The Pakistani had taken a 2-0 lead—11-6, 11-2—before Chandaran retired due to injury during the third game, with Zaman ahead 4-1.
On the other side of the draw, El Torkey had upset top-seeded compatriot Ibrahim Elkabbani 7-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-5 to book his place in the final.
The Egyptian looked to be in top form heading into the decider but was ultimately outclassed by Zaman’s resilience and tactical shift in the later stages of the match.
Zaman’s title run saw him defeat strong contenders including France’s Melvil Scianimanico, Poland’s Jakub Pytlowany, and Kuwait’s Hussain Alzaatari in earlier rounds.
The victory has been hailed across the country. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated Zaman for bringing “pride to Pakistan in the sport of squash”.
In a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat, Zardari said Zaman had “played his best throughout the championship, including the final”, and expressed hope for his continued success.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised Zaman’s achievement, calling it a moment of “global recognition for Pakistan”.
“The whole nation is proud of Noor Zaman,” the Prime Minister said, expressing confidence that Pakistan would “regain its lost glory in the field of squash”.
Zaman, the grandson of squash legend Qamar Zaman, now stands as a beacon of hope for the revival of Pakistan’s dominance in the sport, once ruled by greats like Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan.
His triumph at the U-23 World Championship is widely seen as a turning point, inspiring a new generation of players and reaffirming Pakistan’s status on the global squash stage.
“This win is for Pakistan,” said Zaman. “I’m proud to carry forward our rich squash legacy.”
