LONDON Top seed and tournament favourite Aamir Atlas Khan of Pakistan will face Egypt`s second seeded Mohammad El Shorbagy in the final of the World Junior Men`s Squash Championship in Zurich after winning their respective pre-finals late on Thursday evening in contrasting manners.

The clash between the two youngsters has justified their seedings as they prepare for the ultimate showdown in the prestigious event being staged for the first time in Switzerland under the auspices of World Squash Federation.

Aamir, who celebrated turned 18 a day earlier, cruised to a 9-1, 9-1, 9-6 victory in 40 minutes over compatriot Waqar Mehboob.

The Peshawar-born player who has reached the final without dropping a game is now one match away from becoming the first Pakistani to win the title since his legendary uncle Jansher Khan, the record eight-time senior World Open champion, in 1986.

The other semi-final pitched El Shorbagy against local hero Nicolas Mueller, the third seed and former European Junior champion from Switzerland.

With the crowd backing Mueller all the way, the Swiss teenager twice clawed back game leads by the higher-ranked Egyptian.

But, after 67 minutes, it was El Shorbagy who prevailed, winning 9-7, 9-10, 9-4, 1-9, 9-5 to take his expected place in Friday`s final.

Results

Semi-finals Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) beat Waqar Mehboob (PAK) 9-1, 9-1, 9-6

Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) beat Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 9-7, 9-10, 9-4, 1-9, 9-5

Opinion

Editorial

Iran endgame
Updated 03 Mar, 2026

Iran endgame

AS hostilities continue following the Israeli-American joint aggression against Iran, there seems to be no visible...
Water concerns
03 Mar, 2026

Water concerns

RECENT reports that India plans to invest $60bn in increasing its water storage capacity on the Jhelum and Chenab...
Down and out
03 Mar, 2026

Down and out

ANOTHER Twenty20 World Cup, another ignominious exit — although this time Pakistan did advance past the first...
Khamenei’s killing
Updated 02 Mar, 2026

Khamenei’s killing

THERE is no question about it: with the brutal assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and...
NFC reform
02 Mar, 2026

NFC reform

PLANNING Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s call for forward-looking reforms in the NFC Award has reopened an important debate...
Migrant crisis
02 Mar, 2026

Migrant crisis

MIGRANT casualties represent the lifelong pain of families left behind. Yet countries do little to preserve ...