KARACHI: Pakistan squash player Noor Zaman stormed into the inaugural U23 World Squash Championship final here at Karachi’s DHA Creek Club on Wednesday.
Noor pipped his Malaysian counterpart Ameeshenraj Chandarana with a dominant display of 11-6, 11-2, 11-4.
Noor was in control, leading 2-0, before Chandarana retired due to health conditions. He will now face Egypt’s Kareem El Torkey in the final on Thursday.
After the victory, Noor expressed gratitude for reaching the final of the World Squash Championship, mentioning his grandfather’s hard work, legendary Qamar Zaman.
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“Qualifying for the final is a great honor for me, my family and entire Pakistan. My grandfather worked really hard with me when I was eight or nine years old,” he said.
In the second men’s semi-final, Kareem El Torkey delivered a surprising performance by defeating the top seed, Ibrahim Elkabbani, with a score of 3-1.
Although El Torkey lost the first game, he made a strong comeback to secure victories in the following three matches.
Elkabbani’s frustration escalated during the match, leading to multiple confrontations with the referee.
The Egyptian player appeared increasingly upset, challenging the official’s calls throughout the game.
It is pertinent to mention that the winner of the U23 World Squash Championship will get an automatic qualification through to the PSA World Championships as well as the lion’s share of a $60,000 prize pot.
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