NAGOYA: Pakistan secured another medal at the Asian Games on Friday after Noor Zaman and Mohammad Ashab Irfan won their respective singles matches to reach the semi-finals of the squash competition.

Third-seeded Noor defeated Hong Kong’s Chi Hin Henry Leung, while fifth-seeded Ashab stunned India’s Veer Chotrani at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena to put Pakistan into the medal rounds of the event.

Noor, Pakistan’s top-ranked player in the draw, was pushed by Leung but held his nerve to win 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-4 and secure a place in the last four.

Ashab also produced a strong performance against the fourth-seeded Indian, recovering from losing the opening game to win 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 to avenge Pakistan’s defeat to India in the men’s team final at the previous Asian Games.

The victories mean Pakistan are assured of at least a bronze medal in the men’s singles competition, with the losing semi-finalists awarded bronze.

It is the first time since 2002 that two players for Pakistan have made it to the Asian Games semi-finals. Noor takes on top seed Eain Yow Ng of Malaysia on Saturday, while Ashab will be up against second seed Abhay Singh for a spot in the final.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s mixed doubles pair of Asim Khan and Mehwish Ali saw their run halted at the quarter-final stage — the lone blemish on an otherwise promising day for the country’s racquet sport.

Asim and Mehwish, who had battled back from a game down to reach the last eight, could not summon another comeback, going down to Hong Kong’s Cheuk Nam Lai and Yee Lam Toby Tse 6-11, 7-11 in 20 minutes.

In fencing, Pakistan’s men’s foil team crashed out at the table of 16 stage, losing 45-12 to China at the Aichi Sky Expo.

The trio of Mohammad Waqas, Abdul Musawir and Baryal Khan managed just eight bout wins across nine relays, with China controlling the tie from start to finish.

At the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, Mishael Aisha Hayat Ayub finished second last in the women’s 50m butterfly heat with a time of 30.95 seconds. Hamza Asif also failed to advance from his heat, finishing fifth in the men’s 50m breaststroke in 30.47 secs.

The badminton campaign got off to a disastrous start as Pakistan lost both of their fixtures in the men’s singles and mixed doubles.

Mohammad Ali Larosh lost his first-round fixture against Kazakhstan’s Makhsut Tajibullayev 2-1 (21-11, 22-24, 24-22).

Larosh then partnering Mahoor Shahzad bowed out after being brushed aside by South Korea’s Yun Jaeh Kim and Hajeong Jang 1-21, 10-21 in the mixed doubles.

Pakistan’s Noreen Huss­ain failed to register a mark in the women’s pole vault final.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2026