Pakistan’s young squash players Asiab Irfan and Noor Zaman have stormed into the semifinals of the Nash Cup Squash Tournament in Canada, bringing pride to the country with impressive quarterfinal victories.
Eighth seed Asiab Irfan delivered a stunning upset by defeating India’s fourth seed Veer Chotrani in a thrilling five-game battle. After dropping the first two games 9-11 and 4-11, Irfan made a strong comeback to win the next three 11-8, 11-8, and 11-8, sealing a memorable 3-2 victory. His resilience and ability to recover under pressure secured him a place in the semifinals.
Joining him in the last four is Noor Zaman, who overcame Colombia’s Ronald Palomino in four games. Zaman started strongly with an 11-4 win in the opening game, but Palomino fought back to level the match 12-10 in the second. Zaman regained control in the following games, winning 11-7 and 11-7 to claim a 3-1 triumph and a spot in the semifinals.
The Nash Cup, currently underway in Canada, carries a total prize pool of USD 31,250 and features some of the world’s emerging squash talent. With two Pakistanis now in the semifinals, hopes are high for a title win.
