KARACHI –
Pakistan’s squash sensation, Noor Zaman, has advanced to the semifinals of the Charlottesville Open after delivering a masterful straight-games victory over the third seed, Yahya Elnawasany of Egypt.
The eighth-seeded Zaman, currently riding a wave of success, needed just 35 minutes to dismantle Elnawasany in their quarterfinal clash on Thursday, securing the win with identical 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 scores.
Confidence and the Road Ahead
The 21-year-old Pakistani player will now face a tough test in the semifinal against the top seed, Timothy Brownell of the United States. Brownell earned his spot in the last four after defeating India’s Veer Chotrani 3-1.
Zaman’s victory underscores his excellent current form. He entered the quarter-final following a convincing 3-1 win over England’s Tom Walsh and is fresh off clinching the Nash Cup—another PSA World Tour event—in Canada just last week. The reigning World U23 Champion stunned the Nash Cup’s second seed in a commanding 3-0 final, a result that marked a significant milestone in his career.
The Charlottesville Open is a $31,250 tournament on the PSA World Tour series.
Other Results and Fellow Competitors
In other quarterfinal action, England’s Sam Todd advanced by overcoming Argentina’s Leandro Romiglio 3-0, while Egypt’s Salman Khalil defeated the fourth seed, Velavan Senthilkumar of India, 3-1.
Unfortunately for Pakistan, Zaman’s compatriots Ashab Irfan and Asim Khan were both knocked out in their respective Round of 16 matches. Asim suffered a 3-0 defeat to top seed Timothy Brownell, who Zaman now faces, while Ashab was eliminated by India’s Veer Chotrani in a 3-1 defeat.
