Pakistan’s rising squash prodigy, Noor Zaman, emerged victorious in the final of the inaugural WSF World U23 Squash Championships on Thursday, staging a phenomenal comeback against Egypt’s Kareem El Torkey.
Trailing with a score of 2-0, Zaman swiftly regained momentum and dominated the subsequent three sets of the five-set match, ultimately securing the title with a 3-2 victory.
Speaking after his title win, Zaman attributed his success after being two points down to his unwavering focus on his game.
“I had it in my mind to fight till the very end,” he added.
The second-seeded Zaman reached the final after defeating Malaysia’s Ameeshenraj Chandaran in the semi-final held on Wednesday at Karachi’s DHA Creek Club.
Zaman was already leading by two games when his opponent was forced to retire from the match.
“The crowd support has been incredible, and I’ll give everything to win this title for Pakistan,” Zaman had said after the semi-final.
‘Global Recognition for Pakistan’
Zaman’s exceptional performance throughout the tournament earned him accolades from the country’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari.
Congratulating the entire nation on Zaman’s achievement, the Prime Minister stated: “Noor Zaman has brought global recognition to Pakistan through his performance.”
“The whole nation is proud of Noor Zaman,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif added.
The premier expressed optimism about Pakistan’s future in squash, stating that the country will “regain its lost glory in the field of squash.”
On the other hand, the President remarked that Zaman displayed “outstanding performance in the championship, including the final” and has brought “pride to Pakistan in the sport of squash.”
“I am hopeful for Noor Zaman’s continued success in the future,” said Zardari, extending his prayers for Zaman’s future achievements.
