October had everything for Pakistan sports, from medals on the mats to statements on the sticks, Tekken storylines, and a historic Seven Summits finish. Here’s the month that was for Pakistan’s sports:
Cricket
- Pakistan drew the Test series 1-1 vs South Africa. Nauman Ali starred with the ball; Salman Agha and Shan Masood impressed with the bat.
- Pakistan Women at the Women’s World Cup: a tough campaign with losses across the board.
- Deaf Cricket: Pakistan swept Bangladesh 5-0 in the Two-Nation International Deaf Cricket Series. Zaka Ahmed was Player of the Series.
Esports
- Tekken: Farzeen beat Arslan Ash in a grand final reset to win SEA Major Singapore 2025.
- Tekken: Arslan Ash won EVO France from the losers bracket—his seventh EVO title, an unmatched record.
- Fighting Games: The Jon clinched Paradise Game Battle 2025, underlining Pakistan’s depth in the FGC.
Squash
- Richardson Wealth Men’s Open: Ashab Irfan lifted the title; Noor Zaman exited in the quarterfinals.
- Charlottesville Open ($29,875): Noor Zaman reached the semifinals—another strong step in his pro arc.
- Open Squash Classic: Noor Zaman made the quarterfinals; a narrow loss ended the run.
- Czech Open: Asim Khan bowed out in the second round.
- Juniors (US MSquash Sono Junior Gold, Connecticut): Mahnoor Ali won the U-15 title with straight-game wins in both semi and final; Sehrish Ali won the U-17 Consolation Final 3–1.
Golf
- Fendrich Open, USA: Omar made history, winning and becoming the first Pakistani to capture a golf title on American soil.
- National Amateur (Karachi): Saad Habib Malik won the 64th National Amateur Championship.
- Sri Lanka Amateur: Saad Habib Malik finished runner-up.
- ADT Players Open (Philippines): Saad Habib Malik represented Pakistan; final placement not specified.
Combat Sports (Wrestling, MMA, Heyball/Pool)
- CIS Games: Abdul Rehman won bronze in wrestling.
- IMMAF World Championships: Shahab Ali won silver (lightweight), Abdul Manan bronze (strawweight).
- 3rd Asian Youth Games — Wrestling (Beach): Hassan Ali won bronze; Abdul Rehman lost the bronze medal match.
- Asian Heyball Championship: Arfan Dad won bronze after reaching the men’s semifinals.
Hockey
- Sultan of Johor Cup: Pakistan finished 4th. Sufyan Khan was a standout—top scorer of the tournament with 8 goals.
Football and Futsal
- FIP World Polo Championship: Pakistan made its debut—decent show but fell short of the semifinals.
- AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers: Pakistan lost all matches, scoring only once.
Padel
- FIP Asia Padel Cup (Doha): Pakistan exited in the Super 8 round, missing the semifinals.
Taekwondo
- Indonesia Taekwondo Championship: Ayesha Ayaz won gold and silver—big performances on the circuit.
- 3rd Asian Youth Games — Taekwondo: Syed M. Zohaib Qadri, Saifullah, and Kaneez Zainab did not medal.
Multi-sport summary
- Volleyball: Pakistan won every match to reach the final and took silver after a narrow loss in the decider.
- Kabaddi: Bronze medal for Pakistan after a strong campaign.
- Athletics (100m): Iqra Riaz and Ghulam Murtaza missed the semifinals but competed well.
- Discus Throw: Muhammad Behram and Faiz Muhammad Hussain placed 9th and 10th respectively.
- Badminton: Humna Irshad did not win a medal.
- Ju-Jitsu: Hamad Al Baloushi, Muhammad Saqib, and Sadam Khan did not medal.
- Swimming: Shanzay Tabish Bari, Raaqiah Adeel, Fatima Salman, and Daniya Bhatia did not medal.
Mountaineering
- Seven Summits: Asad Ali Memon completed the Seven Summits Challenge—highest peaks on all seven continents. Historic territory for Pakistan mountaineering.
Road Running
- Chicago Marathon 2025: Strong Pakistani turnout and times.
- Fastest overall among the contingent: Syed Ali Hamza (Villanova, USA).
- Pakistan-based men: Karachi’s Faisal Shafi led, followed by Bilal Umar, Yawar Siddiqui (Islamabad), Shah Faisal Khan, Safdar Ali, Yasir Suleman Memon, Tajdar Iqbal.
- Women: Sana Malik, Dania Ali, Maimoona Hamdani among the notable finishers.
- Also in the mix: Salman Ilyas, Nizar Nayani, Saood Hamid (Lahore), Fawaz Qamar, Muhammad Yousuf.
Tekken kept Pakistan on the world stage, squash mined titles, and volleyball and kabaddi brought home medals from the Asian Youth Games. Cricket split the script again, while mountaineering hit a once-in-a-generation milestone. October was equal parts grind and glory—and it moved the needle.
About the Author: Muhammad Saim Iqbal, A mechanical Engineering student at NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering driven by personal growths, sports analysis, and meaningful achievements.
