Pakistan’s Hamza Khan crowned U-19 squash champion at Asian Juniors

Published
0
Pakistan’s U-19 top-seed Hamza Khan prostrates after winning the finals against Malaysia’s Harith Danial at the Mushaf Squash Complex in Islamabad on June 29. — Screengrab from livestream
Pakistan’s U-19 top-seed Hamza Khan prostrates after winning the finals against Malaysia’s Harith Danial at the Mushaf Squash Complex in Islamabad on June 29. — Screengrab from livestream

Pakistan’s Hamza Khan put on a show for the home crowd as he clinched the Boys’ Under-19 title at the finals of the 31st Asian Junior Squash Championship in Islamabad on Saturday.

Last year’s world junior champion cruised to victory over Malaysia’s third seed Harith Danial in three straight sets 11-5, 12-10, 11-9.

Malaysia’s Harith Danial hugs Pakistan’s Hamza Khan after the latter’s win in the Boys’ Under-19 title at the finals of the 31st Asian Junior Squash Championship in Islamabad on Saturday. — screengrab
Malaysia’s Harith Danial hugs Pakistan’s Hamza Khan after the latter’s win in the Boys’ Under-19 title at the finals of the 31st Asian Junior Squash Championship in Islamabad on Saturday. — screengrab

Danial’s commendable fight for gold was trumped by his sportsmanship as he immediately embraced Khan in a congratulatory hug following the latter’s victory.

Powerhouse Khan remained unbeaten throughout the championship, thrashing Hong Kong’s Lee Tin Hang in the prelims before facing compatriot Anas Ali Shah in the quarter-finals, winning against both in three straight sets.

He sailed into Friday’s semi-finals against teammate M Ahmad, winning a clean 11-6, 11-5, 11-0 to secure a spot in the final against Danial.

Saturday’s finals saw three other Pakistanis eyeing a junior title.

Despite a solid start by Abdullah Nawaz against Nikhileswar Moganasundharam, the Malaysian second seed took home the U-17 title finishing the five-set match 11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 6-11.

The U-13 title belonged to Pakistan as soon as Sohail Adnan and Huzaifa Shahid qualified for the finals.

Fourth seed Adnan threw down a solid first two sets in the final, but Shahid put up a solid comeback to win the third and fourth set. Ultimately, it was Adnan who triumphed as the scorecard ended with 12-10, 12-10, 5-11, 4-11, 11-8.

The six-day tournament saw over 200 boys and girls from a dozen countries battle it out at the Mushaf Sports Complex for a shot at international glory.

Opinion

Editorial

Parliament’s place
11 Oct, 2026

Parliament’s place

MUCH has changed in just a little over a decade. In 2015, when the question of Pakistan’s involvement in the...
Disturbing the peace
11 Oct, 2026

Disturbing the peace

THIS year’s Nobel Peace Prize is well-earned. The winner, South African jurist Dr Navi Pillay, has had an...
A voice in care
10 Oct, 2026

A voice in care

WORLD Mental Health Day this year carries a compelling message. The theme, ‘Lived experiences heard: real voices,...
Midterm break
Updated 10 Oct, 2026

Midterm break

Both the US and Israel need to halt their destructive misadventures in the Middle East.
American barbarism
Updated 10 Oct, 2026

American barbarism

WITH the spectre of defeat in the upcoming midterm elections looming large over the Trump administration, the...