Pakistan secured another medal at the Asian Games on Friday as Noor Zaman and Mohammad Ashab Irfan advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s singles squash competition.
Noor defeated Hong Kong’s Chi Hin Henry Leung at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena, while Ashab beat India’s Veer Chotrani to book their places in the last four.
Noor, Pakistan’s highest-ranked player in the event, faced a strong challenge from Leung but maintained his composure to claim victory. Ashab recovered from dropping the opening game against Chotrani to complete a 3-1 comeback.
Ashab won 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6, securing a measure of revenge for Pakistan’s loss to India in the men’s team final at the previous Asian Games.
With both players reaching the semi-finals, Pakistan are guaranteed at least a bronze medal in the men’s singles event, as both losing semi-finalists receive bronze.
The achievement marks the first time since 2002 that two Pakistani players have reached the semi-finals of the men’s singles squash competition at the Asian Games.
Both Noor and Ashab had advanced to the quarter-finals without dropping a game. Noor beat Kuwait’s Ammar Altamimi 11-4, 11-9, 11-4, while Ashab defeated Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad Al Alnafsan 11-9, 11-3, 11-5 in the last 16 on Thursday.
The Pakistani duo will play their respective semi-finals on Saturday, with the winners advancing to Sunday’s gold-medal match.
