Sports Bulletin

Islamabad (Sports News): During the third day of action at the 2026 Asian Games, it was Pakistan’s Mohammad Ashab Irfan [5/8] who stole the headlines with an impressive display to upset the seedings and defeat India’s Veer Chotrani [3/4] on what was an action-packed day at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena.The 20th Asian Games sees three squash competitions taking place at the Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena, with Mixed Doubles and Singles being contested from 23-27 September, followed by the Team event taking place from 28 September-2 October.The event brings together the very best Asian squash stars, who will not only be competing for national honours but also for a place in history as squash’s first-ever Olympians, with the winners of the Singles competitions earning a place in the main draw at squash’s Olympic debut at LA28.Despite Chotrani taking the lead in the opening game of their quarter-final encounter, winning 11-6, Irfan refused to back down from the challenge against the No.3/4 seed and was able to bounce back to claim the second 11-8.With momentum behind him, the Pakistan No.2 continued to launch a strong attack on the World No.49, claiming the third 11-3, before closing out the match, winning 11-3 – becoming the first Pakistani semi-finalist since Aamir Atlas Khan achieved the feat in 2010 in Guangzhou, China."I am feeling so good today. Coming into the Asian Games everyone knows the stakes of qualifying for the Olympics, so I knew it wasn't going to be easy," said Irfan after the match. "I am really happy to have got the win today, as Veer [Chotrani] is such a tough player. We have played quite a few times in the past, but to get the win today, it just feels amazing. I am so excited."Irfan’s triumph will see him face off against India’s No.2 seed Abhay Singh, who reached tomorrow’s semi-final with a determined straight-game win over one of the home crowd favourites, Ryuonsuke Tsukue [5/8].Joining them in the semi-final will also be No.3 seed and U23 World Champion Noor Zaman, who secured his place in the last four by downing Henry Leung [5/8] of Hong Kong, China, in four games.Zaman’s victory also made Pakistan squash history, as it means for the first time in 24 years two Pakistan players will compete in the semi-finals of the Asian Games, a feat achieved by Mansoor Zaman Sr and Shahid Zaman in 2002 at Busan, Republic of Korea.Following the achievement, Zaman said: "I am feeling so good today, it has been a long time since two Pakistani players have been in the semifinals of the Asian Games, so to have achieved that today with Irfan is great.“It is a very proud moment for us both, and I know we will both be so excited to fight for a place in the final. I am really looking forward to it.” With a place confirmed in the semi-finals, Zaman will take on the defending champion and No.1 seed Eain Yow Ng of Malaysia, who advanced after beating Hong Kong, China’s Alex Lau [5/8] in straight games.Meanwhile, the Women’s Singles draw continued to showcase high-quality squash as Hong Kong, China’s Sin Yuk Chan [5/8] confirmed her place in tomorrow's semi-finals in Nagoya.Despite dropping the opening game 10-12, Chan was able to bounce back and remain seemingly unfazed, winning the next three games 11-9, 11-5, 11-9.The win for Chan will see her compete against Sivasangari Subramaniam for a spot in Sunday’s final, with the Malaysian No.1 scoring an impressive straight-game victory over Hong Kong, China’s Tomato Ho.No.2 seed Satomi Watanabe also booked her place in the semi-finals in front of a supportive home crowd, beating her compatriot Akaria Midorikawa 11-5, 11-2, 11-6."I am really pleased and happy to go through to the semifinals," said Watanabe. "I wasn’t happy with my performance yesterday, but I am happy with my performance today as it is always tough to play against a teammate."It is always hard against someone you know really well, and a friend, but on the court she is a rival and it was an enjoyable, clean battle against her."So to get the win, and move one step closer is a great feeling, but it is all about making sure we take it one match at a time." The Japanese No.1 will go on to face India’s No.3 seed Anahat Singh, who progressed into the semi-finals with a 3-0 victory over her teammate Tanvi Khanna.In the Mixed Doubles draw, it proved to be a successful day for Hong Kong, China, with both of their doubles teams advancing into tomorrow’s semi-finals.In the opening session of the day, Hong Kong, China’s team of Ka Yi Lee and Ming Hong Tang progressed to the semi-finals after downing No.1 seeds Mohammad Syfiq Mohd Kamal and Aifa Azman in straight games.The victory for the duo will see them face off against India’s Velavan Senthilkumar and Joshana Chinnappa [3/4], who confirmed their place in tomorrow’s match after beating the Philippines’ Davia Pelino and Jemyca Aribado [9/16].On Court 6, Hong Kong, China’s Yee Lam Tse and Lai Cheuk Nam Matthew secured a place in the semi-finals after beating Pakistan’s Muhammad Asim Khan and Mehwish Ali 11-6, 11-7.The duo will go on to face Malaysia’s No.2 seeds Rachel Arnold and Ameeshenraj Chandaran, who reached the last four with a 2-0 win over the Republic of Korea’s Seojin Oh and Mingyeo

Islamabad (faisal): The Pakistan National Squash Teams have departed from Islamabad International Airport for Japan to compete in the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026!The main games will take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026. Our squash stars will be in action from September 23 to October 2, 2026, competing for medals in five key events.Competition Schedule:Individual Events (Mens Singles, Womens Singles and Mixed Doubles): September 23 to September 27, 2026Team Events (Mens Team and Womens Team): September 28 to October 2, 2026Pakistan Squash Contingent:Led by Air Commodore (R) Amir Nawaz and Head Coach Mr. Fahim GulMen's Team:Noor ZamanMohammad Ashab IrfanNasir IqbalMohammad Asim KhanWomen's Team:Sana BahadurMehwish AliSehrish AliMahnoor AliEvent Participation:Individual Events: Noor Zaman, Mohammad Ashab Irfan, Sana Bahadur and Mahnoor AliMixed Doubles: Nasir Iqbal and Sehrish Ali, Mohammad Asim Khan and Mehwish Ali

Islamabad (Sports News): Squash Media & Marketing (SMM) has renewed its agreement with Myco which will see over 20 tournaments on the PSA Squash Tour shown live on the channel throughout the 2026-27 season.The agreement kicked off with the London Squash Classic between September 2-6 and will run to the end of the season at the PSA Squash Tour Finals presented by TWG Global.The action will be broadcast by Myco in Bangladesh, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates."We're delighted to build on our partnership with Myco and bring the PSA Squash Tour to even more fans across Bangladesh, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates," said PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough. "This renewed agreement reflects the continued growth of squash in these markets and gives fans access to the world’s best squash players and tournaments.“We look forward to working together closely over what promises to be another exciting season together.”Myco Co-Founder Somair Rizvi said: "Squash has deep roots across our markets, and with its Olympic debut coming in 2028, the world is about to rediscover a sport this region never stopped loving."Renewing with PSA across Pakistan, Bangladesh and the UAE is a promise to the players and the fans here that we will keep showing up for this game, season after season."

Karachi (Sports News): The PSA Sindh Challenger Squash Championship, organized by the Sindh Squash Association, has concluded. A thrilling 48-minute final match took place at the Jahangir Khan Sports Club between Nasir Iqbal and Abdullah Nawaz. Abdullah took the lead in the first game, winning 11-6; however, the experienced Nasir Iqbal staged a magnificent comeback after trailing by a game, securing victory in the next three games with scores of 13-11, 11-2, and 11-9.In the event, which carried a total prize purse of $6,000, winner Nasir Iqbal received $950 and a trophy, while runner-up Abdullah Nawaz was awarded $600 and a trophy. Former world champion Jahangir Khan and Zubair Jahan Khan presented the prizes to the players. Jahangir Khan commended both finalists and remarked that the frequent hosting of squash championships in recent times is a welcome development. Sindh Squash Association President Adnan Asad is working towards organizing higher-value tournaments, and major squash events are set to take place in Karachi in the near future. Squash legend Jahangir Khan urged the players to continue working hard so they can win gold medals at the Asian Games and qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics.

Islamabad (Sports News): Top Pakistan female squash player, Sana Bahadur has clinched the title at the PSA Challenger 3K Bendigo Open 2026, held from 13th to 16th August 2026 at the Bendigo Squash Centre, Melbourne, Australia.According to Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), in an impressive final, Sana Bahadur defeated Australia’s Rechael Grinha 3-1 to lift the trophy. PSF top officials congratulated Sana on her great victory.

Egyptain lad Salman Khalil overcomes Nasir Iqbal 3-0 in final to lift the titleKarachi (Ali Usman): Egypt's Salman Khalil won the PN Fleet Club Open International Squash Championship by defeating Pakistan's Nasir Iqbal in straight games 3-0 here on Tuesday.In the final held at the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex under the auspices of the Sindh Squash Association, Egypt's third-seeded Salman Khalil defeated Pakistan's Nasir Iqbal in straight games. Salman Khalil won with scores of 14-12, 11-3, and 13-11. Commander Karachi, Vice Admiral Faisal Amin (Hilal-e-Imtiaz), was the chief guest at the final, which was also attended by squash legend Jahangir Khan and former Governor Moinuddin Haider. The championship carried a total prize purse of $41,000.The chief guest, Commander Karachi (Pakistan Navy) Vice Admiral Faisal Amin, remarked that the hosting of the PN Fleet Club Open International Squash Championship is a welcome development and affirmed that the Pakistan Navy would continue to patronize sports. Adnan Asad, President of the Sindh Squash Association, outlined details regarding upcoming squash competitions, noting that plans are underway to organize several tournaments offering substantial prize money in the near future; he emphasized that it is now up to the players to work hard and achieve success. Former world champion Jahangir Khan expressed his desire to see Pakistani players qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics and win gold medals, adding that to emulate legends like himself and Jansher Khan, players must focus solely on the sport and hard work.

Karachi (Ali Usman): Pakistan's Nasir Iqbal has qualified for the final of the PN Fleet Club Open International Squash Championship.In the semi-finals, Egypt's Yassin Elshafei was defeated in straight games, while Asim Khan was beaten by the Egyptian player Salman Khalil. The international squash tournament, organized by the Sindh Squash Association at the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex, is nearing its conclusion. Pakistan's Nasir Iqbal delivered a magnificent performance against Egypt's Yassin Elshafei; he completely dominated his opponent, securing victory in just twenty-four minutes.Nasir Iqbal won with a score of 11-5, 11-7, and 11-5. Earlier, Egypt's Salman Khalil defeated Pakistan's Asim Khan by three games to one; Khalil secured the victory with game scores of 7-11, 5-11, 11-7, and 5-11. The final of this event, which carries a prize purse of $41,000, will be played on Tuesday at 4:00 PM.

Asim upsets top seed Noor Zaman, Nasir Iqbal defeats Hamza KhanIslamabad: (Sports Report): Pakistan's Asim Khan secured a place in the semi-finals by upsetting top seed and compatriot Noor Zaman, winning three games to one. Nasir Iqbal also qualified for the semi-finals after defeating Hamza Khan.At the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex, Asim Khan staged a magnificent comeback after losing the first game, going on to win the next three. Top seed Noor Zaman retired from the match due to injury towards the end of the fourth game. The game scores were 11-9, 9-11, 1-11, and 3-11. Speaking after his victory, Asim Khan stated that his goal was to play well, an objective he successfully achieved. He added that having upset the top seed, he would now aim to maintain his winning momentum in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Nasir Iqbal defeated Hamza Khan 3-2 in a thrilling contest; the scores were 5-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9, and 8-11.Egypt's Salman Khalil defeated Mohamed Naseer 3-0 in the Street Games, while his compatriot Yassin Elshafei secured a 3-2 victory over Ali Tolba.Asim Khan will face Salman Khalil in the first semi-final on Monday, and Nasir Iqbal will take on Yassin Elshafei in the second. The final of the event, which carries a prize purse of $41,000, will be played on Tuesday.

Alfie MuliganEgypt continued to showcase their dominance by retaining both the men's and women's World Squash Junior Team Championship titles after securing victories over Malaysia and the USA.The World Squash Junior Championships bring together the world's best under-19 squash players, with the men's and women's individual championships having taken place from July 20–25 and the men's and women's team championships being contested from July 26–31.In the opening tie of the day at White Oaks Resort & Spa, Egypt's women's team claimed their 13th World Squash Junior Team Championship title with a commanding 2-0 victory over No.4 seeds Malaysia.With the finals played in a 1-3-2 string order, Egypt made a tactical adjustment by promoting Malika Elkaraksy to first string in place of Ruqayya Salem.Targeting an 11th consecutive women's team title, Elkaraksy made the perfect start, racing into a 2-0 lead over Malaysia's Whitney Wilson after taking the opening two games 11-7, 11-5.The momentum shifted in the third game as Wilson threatened to force a fourth after building a 10-9 lead. However, Elkaraksy showed her composure by saving the game ball before reeling off the next three points to seal a 12-10 victory.With Egypt one win away from retaining the title, 16-year-old Habiba Rizk stepped onto court to face Malaysia's Doyce Ye San Lee.After Lee's gruelling five-game semi-final against Hong Kong, China's Tsz Ching Cheung, she struggled to find her rhythm as Rizk quickly established control.With all the momentum in Egypt's favour, Rizk wrapped up the title with an emphatic 11-2, 11-3, 11-3 victory."I'm really grateful to win this title for Egypt for the 13th time with my amazing team," said Habiba Rizk.“I want to thank the Egyptian Federation and the coaches who helped us reach the final. I also want to thank my family and my coaches back home."I'm really grateful to win this title again with this amazing team."After claiming the opening match, Malika Elkaraksy added: “I’m really happy to win this title with this amazing team. Winning it for the 13th time means everything.“All thanks to the national team, the coaches and family. I’m so happy.”Meanwhile, in the men's final, Egypt claimed a historic ninth World Squash Junior Team Championship title with a convincing 2-0 victory over No.2 seeds USA.Mohamad Zakaria set the tone in the opening match with a straight-games victory over USA's Yaseen Shalaby.Having been pushed to his limits by France's Amir Khaled-Jousselin in yesterday's semi-final, Zakaria ensured there would be no repeat, taking the opening two games 11-5, 11-6.The reigning World Junior Individual champion continued to showcase his class in the third, closing out the match 11-4.The victory meant World No.7 Zakaria completed the last 33 matches of his World Junior career without dropping a single game, a streak stretching back to his defeat to Pakistan's Hamza Khan in the 2023.With Egypt leading 1-0, No.3 string Seifeldin Refaay faced USA's Brendan Tagliarini in the second match of the tie.In what proved to be the title-clinching contest, Refaay made the stronger start, taking the opening game 11-3.From there, the momentum remained firmly with the Egyptian, who doubled his advantage with an 11-5 second game to move his team to the brink of the title.Refaay maintained his dominance in the third, sealing it 11-3 to secure Egypt's third consecutive men's World Squash Junior Team Championship.Zakaria said:“It feels amazing and to close it out like this with such a powerful team like these three guys, it’s amazing.“They’re the best juniors in the world, their level is very high and they are pro players and I think the level was just too far for the rest of the competition.“I want to thank the coaches and physios and everyone who stood by us. I feel like we did a really good job and to close it out like this is probably how I imagined how I would go out after my junior career.”Refaay added: "I'm very happy to be here at the World Juniors, especially in the team event. In the individuals you're only playing for yourself, but in the teams we're playing as one, representing the flag of Egypt."We're so happy to win this event, and all the credit goes to the Egyptian Federation and our coaches"They've been there for us every step of the way. I'm very grateful to be here today."

Pakistan's Hamza Khan and Nasir Iqbal Win First-Round MatchesKarachi (Sports Reporter): Matches for the Pakistan Navy Fleet Club Open International Squash Championship have commenced in Karachi. Pakistan's Hamza Khan secured a spot in the pre-quarterfinals by defeating USA's Shahjahan Khan, while Nasir Iqbal defeated Switzerland's Loic Hafiz.Matches kicked off on the opening day of the championship, organized by the Sindh Squash Association, at the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex. Former World Junior Champion Hamza Khan began his campaign with a victory, defeating USA's Shahjahan in straight games. Hamza outclassed his opponent in just 27 minutes, winning 11-6, 11-9, and 11-4. Nasir Iqbal secured a spot in the pre-quarterfinals by defeating Switzerland's Loic Hafner in straight games. Meanwhile, Pakistan's wildcard entrant Anas Khan suffered a 3-2 defeat against Hong Kong's Matthew Lai despite putting up stiff resistance; the game scores were 2-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-4, and 11-6.In another match, Egypt's Hafez Abdullah defeated Pakistan's Abdul Saeed in straight games. In other matches, Egypt's Tolba Ali overcame his compatriot Duncan. Brazil's Gobi Diego secured a victory against Japan's Endo Tomotaka. Malaysia's Siu Xian easily defeated Egypt's Labib Khaled 3-0, while Japan's Hashimi Naoki claimed victory over Egypt's Saif Tamer.