Pakistan’s young squash players Noor Zaman and Ashab Irfan booked their places in the quarterfinals of the Nash Cup, a $31,250 PSA World Tour Copper event underway in London, Ontario, Canada.
Fifth seed Noor Zaman showcased resilience in the round of 16, defeating Argentina’s Jeremias Azana 3-1. Zaman claimed the opening game 11-6 but narrowly lost the second 12-14. He rebounded strongly to edge the third 12-10 before sealing victory 11-7 in the fourth. The match lasted 57 minutes, highlighting Zaman’s composure under pressure.
Eighth seed Ashab Irfan faced a tougher battle, overcoming Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeeva in a five-game thriller. Irfan began confidently with an 11-5 win in the first, only for Jeeva to hit back with an identical score in the second. Regaining momentum, Irfan took the third 11-4, but Jeeva forced a decider by winning the fourth 11-7. In the fifth, Irfan held firm, clinching the contest 11-6 after a grueling 63 minutes.
Both Pakistanis now face stern tests in the quarterfinals. Zaman is set to clash with Colombia’s Ronald Palomino, who upset third seed Leandro Romiglio of Argentina in straight games. Meanwhile, Irfan takes on India’s fourth seed Veer Chotrani, who advanced after a 3-1 victory over Czech player Viktor Byrtus.
The progress of Zaman and Irfan marks a positive sign for Pakistan squash, as the young duo continue to make their presence felt on the international circuit.
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