Pakistan’s young squash players have brought pride to the country by winning two gold medals at the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championship in China. This success has raised hopes for the sport’s revival in Pakistan.
Ahmad Rayan Khalil from Peshawar won the Under-15 title. He defeated Malaysia’s Vedoran Rotheran with a strong 3-0 victory in the final. In the Under-17 category, Nauman Khan also from Peshawar, beat India’s Shiven Agarwal in straight games to claim the gold medal.
These wins ended Pakistan’s long wait for Asian junior titles. Pakistan’s junior team returned with five medals in total, showing good depth in the squad.
The victories highlight the hard work of grassroots squash programs in Peshawar. Despite limited funds, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Squash Association holds regular tournaments to give young players match experience.
Former world champion Qamar Zaman and KP Squash Association President Dawood Khan praised the players. Qamar Zaman called the results a positive sign for Pakistan’s squash future and urged the government to provide more support, noting that the association has not received its annual grant for six years.
Pakistan was once a global powerhouse in squash, with legends like Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan. These new wins by young talents like Khalil and Khan show that the sport can rise again with proper backing. Fans and coaches hope this success inspires more investment in junior training.
