Pakistan displayed remarkable resilience at the WSF World Team Squash Championship 2024 but narrowly lost 2-1 to Germany in a gripping playoff held in Hong Kong, China.
The World Team Squash Championship playoff opened with an electrifying clash between Germany’s Raphael Kandra and Pakistan’s Muhammad Asim Khan. Both players fought tooth and nail in a five-game marathon that lasted 58 minutes. Kandra emerged victorious, clinching the match 3-2 with scores of 11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9.
Pakistan bounced back in the second match, thanks to a clinical performance by Nasir Iqbal. Dominating every rally, Nasir defeated Germany’s Yannik Omlor in straight games, registering an emphatic 3-0 win with scores of 11-8, 11-2, 11-6 in just 27 minutes.
The deciding match saw German squash icon Simon Rösner take on Pakistan’s rising star Noor Zaman. Noor made a strong start, taking the first game 11-8, but Rösner’s wealth of experience turned the tide. He claimed the next three games 11-7, 11-5, 11-4, sealing the tie in 38 minutes and securing Germany’s victory.
With the loss, Pakistan shifts focus to the SC6 playoff match against Canada, scheduled for Thursday at 4:30 PM PST. The team remains determined to finish the World Team Squash Championship on a high note.
| Match No. | Teams |
|---|---|
| 1 | [1] Egypt vs [7/9] France |
| 2 | [3] Belgium vs [6] Hong Kong, China |
| 3 | [4] England vs [5] Malaysia |
| 4 | [2] USA vs [10/12] India |
| Match No. | Teams |
|---|---|
| 1 | [1] Egypt vs [9/12] Germany |
| 2 | [3] France vs [9/12] India |
| 3 | [4] Switzerland vs [6] Colombia |
| 4 | [2] England vs [8] Hong Kong, China |