Pakistani squash players Muhammad Asim Khan, Noor Zaman, and Muhammad Ashab Irfan have reached the semi-finals of the Mile High 360 Squash Championship, a $15,000 prize money tournament in the United States, highlighting Pakistan’s strength in the sport with three of the top four players from the country.
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In a notable performance, Ashab Irfan defeated the top-seeded Canadian David Baillargeon in straight games, winning 11-6, 12-10, and 11-7. The Lahore native has secured a place in the semi-finals, where he will compete against England’s Tom Walsh.
Fifth-seeded Asim Khan faced a tough challenge against second-seeded Cesar Salazar of Mexico in the quarter-finals. After establishing a 2-1 lead, Salazar retired in the fourth game, resulting in a victory for Asim with scores of 12-10, 2-11, 11-7, and 11-0. Asim will now face fellow Pakistani Noor Zaman in an all-Pakistani semi-final.
Noor Zaman triumphed over fourth-seeded American Spencer Lovejoy in a closely contested four-game match. After winning the first two games 11-8 and 11-2, Zaman faced a comeback from Lovejoy, who took the third game 11-8. However, Zaman regained control to win the fourth game 11-6, securing his place in the semi-finals.
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With three Pakistani players in the final four, the tournament has become yet another event in the USA for showcasing Pakistan’s squash talent. The semi-final between Asim Khan and Noor Zaman guarantees a Pakistani finalist, while Ashab Irfan aims for another victory against Walsh to potentially set up an all-Pakistani final.
