ISLAMABAD, Jan 14: A 10-member Pakistan squad will leave here for Chennai (India) next Thursday to take part in the Asian junior squash championship.

The championship will be played from Jan 22 to 28 with Pakistan defending both the individual and team titles in the boys category.

The Pakistani players, four boys and as many girls, are currently practising in Peshawar under the scrutinising gaze, and instructions, of national junior coach Rehmat Khan. They will return to Islamabad on Sunday before leaving for Chennai to take part in the week-long championship after a few days' practice here.

Besides Rehmat as coach and Tahir Khanzada, secretary Sindh Squash Association, as manager, the male players in the Pakistan squad are Aamir Atlas Khan, Bilal Zaman, Aqib Hanif and Alamzeb Jr.

In the absence of Farhan Zaman Khan, who won the individual title besides contributing in the team event, coach Rehmat Khan has high hopes from 17-years-old Aamir.

"This boy has potential and could prove to be a future champion with consistent hard work," said the national junior coach of the up-and-coming player who showed his potential with impressive performance in World junior squash championship here in August last year.

About the girls in the Pakistan squad, he said they will have splendid chance to improve their rankings. The four of them are: Sarah Awan, Maria Toor Pakae, Alia Sarfraz and Zoya Khalid. Pakistan had clinched the boys titles while Indians won in the girls events in the last edition of the championship in Pakistan two years ago. -APP