Noor Zaman sparks squash revival with historic U23 world title
Scion of legend’s family pulls off stunning victory in final match
PARADISE REGAINED?
April 12, 2025
MAKING it clear that Pakistan still has players capable of reclaiming its lost glory in squash, Noor Zaman, grandson of the legendary Qamar Zaman, delivered a sensational performance to win the men’s title at the U23 World Squash Championship held recently in Karachi.
Cheered on by a raucous home crowd, Noor — currently ranked 68th in the world — mounted an incredible comeback to defeat Egypt’s higher-ranked Karim El Torkey 3–2 (scoreline: 9–11, 6–11, 11–9, 11–5, 11–5). Both players had reached the final undefeated, and their clash was a showcase of grit, resilience, and high-calibre squash.
Noor opened the scoring in front of a packed crowd that included local and international dignitaries, as well as squash greats Jahangir Khan, Gogi Alladin, and his own grandfather and mentor, Qamar Zaman. Despite Noor’s energetic start, El Torkey kept his composure to win the first game with relative ease and followed up with a hard-fought win in the second.
With his back to the wall, Zaman dug deep and produced a thrilling turnaround, taking the next three games through sheer willpower and determination.
“I was down two games, and the only thing in my mind was to prove how hard I’ve worked to get here. And Alhamdulillah, the match was mine,” Noor said in his post-match interview, wrapped in the Pakistani flag as he thanked the home crowd for their support.
Noor’s victory marks the end of a long title drought for Pakistan in international squash. Once dominant in the sport — with legends like Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan, Qamar Zaman, and Gogi Alladin — the country has in recent years watched Egypt rise as the new global powerhouse.
Following the match, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Noor on his landmark achievement, calling it a moment of national pride. In their statements, both leaders praised Noor for putting Pakistan back on the world squash map.
PM Shehbaz noted that Zaman’s win represents a hopeful step in Pakistan’s journey to reclaim its historic dominance in the sport.
Many analysts agree that Pakistan can regain its place at the top of the squash world — but only with consistent effort. They argue that selecting a pool of 20–25 promising young players and offering them structured training and incentives could be the key. This process, they say, must be repeated and refined until results begin to show.
“If we take the right steps, it's only a matter of time before we return to our former glory. But those efforts must come with sincerity and goodwill,” said a veteran squash coach, speaking on condition of anonymity.