KARACHI: Noor Zaman felt he’d clinched the second game but a review by Egyptian Karim El Torkey denied him a point, delaying the Pakistan sensation’s stunning comeback on Thursday.El Torkey seemed primed to lift the inaugural Under-23 World Squash Championship title, a game win away. But Noor snatched it away in remarkable fashion, turning to the referee to confirm his championship point before dropping his racquet and falling to the floor in pure exhaustion and exhilaration.

His team-mates and coaches rushed into to the glass court at the Creek Club with the Pakistan flag after Noor’s 3-2 triumph; the 21-year-old rising to his feet and hugging his beaten opponent before embracing his grandfather — the legendary Qamar Zaman — with tears of joy flowing.

“I was down two games and the only thing going on in my mind was that I need to show how hard I’ve worked to get here,” said Noor, the national flag draped on his shoulders as he thanked the home crowd for their support.

Sindh Squash Association president Adnan Asad termed Noor’s victory as the first step to get the sport in Pakistan back on track.

“This tournament was to set the stage and produce another Jahangir Khan in the modern age,” he said. “The target is to secure Olympic gold at LA 2028.”

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah too was effusive in his praise. “I used to watch Jahangir Khan and Qamar Zaman, and to see the talent now in Noor Zaman; this is a great moment for squash and for Pakistan,” he said.

Earlier in the women’s final, Egypt’s Fayrouz Abouelkheir needed just 31 minutes to end the challenge of Hong Kong’s Chan Sin Yuk 12-10, 11-9, 11-6 with World Squash Federation president Zena Woolridge highlighting that it was the first women’s championship to be held in Pakistan.

The draw for the home crowd, though, was the men’s final and they got to witness a thriller.

Buoyed by the support, Noor raced to a 4-0 lead in the first game, only for El Torkey to show his composure and pulling ahead 8-4 before wrapping it up 11-5.

The drama came in the second game where Noor fell behind 4-0 before catching up with El Torkey as both players traded points to take the score to 11-11.

Noor moved ahead and seemed he’d taken the game when El Torkey’s review kept the score at 12-11 before the Egyptian powered to a 14-12 victory.

El Torkey had the advantage but Noor was relentless in his push for the title and roared back in the third game, racing to a 7-1 lead. But with anticipation building in the crowd, El Torkey came back to make it 9-6.

But to thunderous applause from the crowd, Noor managed to regain a foothold and took the game 11-8.

The comeback was on and despite fumbling with his first few points in the fourth game, he levelled the contest by winning it 11-5.

The momentum had shifted and it was Noor in the ascendancy. He seemed to be sprinting to victory when he went 5-0 up in the decisive final game.

El Torkey clawed back a few points but it wasn’t enough as Noor clinched it 11-6 for the title.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2025