Danish Atlas Khan, Danish Atlas, Pakistan squash, pakistan squash federation, squash
Danish Atlas Khan (left) has had a dream run in Iran. -Photo by AFP

Pakistan's teenage squash hope Danish Atlas Khan recored his third successive PSA World Tour title triumph in Iran in a month when he won the Norooz Squash International, the PSA Challenger 5 event in its third year at Enghelab Sports Complex in Tehran.

Third seed Khan made his breakthrough in the semi-finals where he beat top-seeded Egyptian Mazen Gamal, the champion in 2009.

The 17-year-old from Peshawar, the younger brother of Pakistan's top player Aamir, then faced title-holder Bader Al Hussaini in the final after the fourth seed from Kuwait had overcome second seed Waqar Mehboob, from Pakistan, in the other semi-final.

But Danish Atlas Khan was too strong for the defending champion in the final, dispatching the 27-year-old 11-6, 11-8, 11-3 in just 35 minutes.

"I really want to thank Allah for winning three tournaments here - also thanks to my father and my coach Atlas Khan, and my family, who really support me," said the jubilant champion after his victory.

Danish's road to Norooz glory:

1st round: [1] Mazen Gamal (EGY) bt [Q] Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari (PAK) 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5 (65m) [Q] Aurangzeb Mehmund (PAK) bt Mohammad Hossei Jafari Nadoushan (IRI) 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (26m) Mohammad Reza Sadeghpour (IRI) bt Navid Maleksabet (IRI) 11-8, 11-7, 4-11, 11-3 (27m) [3] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) bt Seyed Mohammad Hossein Sanaee (IRI) 11-4, 11-9, 11-6 (28m) [4] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt Masoud Gharehzyaldini (IRI) 11-4, 11-7, 12-10 (29m) Alireza Sanaei (IRI) bt [Q] Sameollah Ghasedabadi (IRI) 11-9, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8 (30m) [Q] Mohammed Yaquop Hajeyah (KUW) bt Zeyad Tareq Alowaesh (KUW) 11-4, 11-3, 4-11, 11-4 (33m) [2] Waqar Mehboob (PAK) bt Waqas Mehboob (PAK) 8-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (24m)

Quarter-finals: [1] Mazen Gamal (EGY) bt [Q] Aurangzeb Mehmund (PAK) 11-7, 11-9, 3-11, 11-5 (41m) [3] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) bt Mohammad Reza Sadeghpour (IRI) 7-11, 11-2, 11-0, 11-3 (27m) [4] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt Alireza Sanaei (IRI) 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 (18m) [2] Waqar Mehboob (PAK) bt [Q] Mohammed Yaquop Hajeyah (KUW) 11-7, 17-15, 11-3 (39m)

Semi-finals: [3] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [1] Mazen Gamal (EGY) 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (46m) [4] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt [2] Waqar Mehboob (PAK) 1-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-5 (28m)

Final: [3] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [4] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) 11-6, 11-8, 11-3 (35m) -(SOURCE SQUASH INFO)

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...