Pakistan clinched four spots in the finals of the Asian Junior Squash Championship at the Mushaf Sports Complex in Islamabad following intense semi-finals on Friday.
In Saturday’s finals, Pakistani players Huzaifa Shahid and Sohail Adnan will vie for the Boys U-13 title, while Abdullah Nawaz faces Malaysia’s Nikhileswar Moganasundharam in the U-17 category at the 31st Asian Junior Squash Championshipedition.
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Last year’s world champion Hamza Khan will compete against Malaysia’s Harith Danial in the U-19 category. No Pakistani girl reached the semi-finals in the tournament, which saw around 200 players from 12 countries across the U-13, U-15, U-17, and U-19 categories.
Earlier this month, the Ali sisters led Pakistan’s medal haul at the PBA 20th Penang Malaysia Junior Open.
Sohail advanced to the finals by decisively beating Malaysia’s Muhammad Ifwat Zulkifli 11-8, 11-6, 11-2. Huzaifa secured another spot for Pakistan, dominating Julius Tan 11-2, 11-8, 11-5. Huzaifa has been a top contender in the global U-13 field, winning the Australian Junior Open in April.
The semi-final battles saw Malaysia’s Muhammad Raziq Razi defeat Pakistan’s Abdullah Zaman 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 in the U-15 category. In the other U-15 semi-final, India’s Shiven Agarwal overcame Pakistan’s Nouman Khan 5-11, 9-11, 0-11.
In the U-17 category, Abdullah Nawaz triumphed over Malaysia’s Altamis Aqhar Sallam 11-4, 14-12, 11-6. Hamza Khan secured his spot in the U-19 finals by defeating M Ammad 11-6, 11-5, 11-0.
