Pakistan’s charge at the 2nd Asian Team Squash Championships gathered further momentum as the men’s doubles pair of Noor Zaman and Nasir Iqbal powered into the business end of the tournament with a third consecutive win in the group stage.
The Pakistani duo capped off a perfect run by defeating Chinese Taipei in straight games, 11-2, 11-9, to finish as table toppers after already beating teams from the Philippines and South Korea.
With this result, they set up a clash against Jaejin Yoo and Jeongmin Ryu, a formidable Korean pairing seeded 10th in the competition.
Pakistan, seeded second, have looked sharp throughout the tournament, showing both attacking flair and defensive stability. Against Chinese Taipei, Zaman and Iqbal came out firing, breezing through the first game before holding their nerve in a tighter second frame to seal the match.
Noor Zaman, one of Pakistan’s brightest young squash prospects, has combined well with the experienced Nasir Iqbal, a former top-40 singles player, to create one of the most balanced pairs in the draw.
The 2nd Asian Team Squash Championships, hosted in Malaysia, have brought together the continent’s top squash nations, with a growing emphasis on the doubles format. For Pakistan, who have long prided themselves on their squash heritage, this tournament represents a meaningful step in reasserting themselves at the elite level.
With a medal now in sight, Pakistan will look to push further and eye the gold and a victory over Korea would take them a step closer to regional supremacy.
