Pakistan’s rising squash star, Ashab Irfan, added another major title to his growing résumé on Saturday, capturing the 2025 South Australian Open Squash Championship with a commanding performance in the final.
Irfan, the tournament’s top seed, lived up to his billing by defeating Malaysia’s Duncan Lee in straight games: 11-8, 12-10, 11-9. The win underlines his growing reputation as one of Pakistan’s most promising talents on the international squash circuit.
From the opening rally of the final, Ashab Irfan displayed trademark composure and control to keep Lee under pressure. While the Malaysian fought hard, particularly in the second and third games, it was Irfan’s sharp execution in key moments that made the difference.
His straight-game victory not only secured the title but also capped off a flawless run in Adelaide, where he showed maturity well beyond his years.
On the women’s side, Hong Kong’s Toby Tse captured the title over Japan’s Risa Sugimoto with a 9-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8 win.
Ashab Irfan’s win marks a significant step in his career as he continues to build on Pakistan’s rich squash legacy, once dominated by greats like Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan. While Pakistan has struggled in recent years to produce top-tier global contenders, Irfan’s and his countrymates’ performances in South Australia are a welcome sign of resurgence.
With the confidence of a title win and his form peaking, Irfan is expected to climb higher in the global rankings and set his sights on bigger PSA events in the months ahead.
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