The Karachi Open Squash tournament kicked off with an electrifying start on Tuesday, showcasing thrilling comebacks and dominant performances from Pakistan’s top squash players. The PSA Gold level event, a significant fixture for 2026, brought international talent to the Creek Club, drawing a packed home crowd.
One of the day’s highlights involved Noor Zaman, who staged a remarkable comeback to secure a 3-2 victory against France’s Melvil Scianimanico. After winning the first game 11-9, Zaman faced a challenge, losing the next two sets 12-10 and 11-3. However, demonstrating the resilience that saw him crowned U23 world champion at the same venue in April, he rallied to win the final two sets 11-6, 11-6. Zaman, the eleventh seed, will now face Egypt’s Fares Dessouky, world number 15, in the Round of 16. “There’s a lot you learn from top-tier championships like this,” Zaman shared, expressing his appreciation for the event’s return to Pakistan.
The biggest upset unfolded when wildcard entrant Nasir Iqbal, ranked 134th globally, dramatically turned the tables on Egypt’s world number 45 Moustafa El Sirty. Trailing two sets down (5-11, 8-11), Iqbal roared back, clinching the next three sets 11-5, 11-9, 11-6 to claim a memorable win. Meanwhile, Ashab Irfan delivered a confident 3-0 sweep against Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue with scores of 11-4, 11-6, 11-9. Irfan, who achieved a career-high world ranking of 47 last year, expressed excitement about facing his idol, top seed Karim Gawad of Egypt, in Wednesday’s Round of 16 at this prestigious Karachi Open Squash event. SindhNews.com reported extensively on these initial matches.
While male players celebrated victories, Pakistan’s female contingent faced tough competition. Sana Bahadar, the first and only fully deaf player in Pakistan and across Asia, made an inspiring appearance but lost 3-0 to Egypt’s Mariam Metwally. Metwally, world number 35, remarked, “It makes me realise how much we take for granted when you see her overcome the obstacles she has to reach this level.” Similarly, Mariam Malik and Tayyab Aslam, both wildcard entrants, were also eliminated, highlighting the high calibre of this PSA Gold tournament.
The opening day of the Karachi Open Squash tournament underlined the immense talent pool in Pakistani squash, even as it faced strong international competition. The event serves as a crucial platform for local players to gain exposure and experience against the world’s best, fostering development and inspiring future champions while bringing high-level squash back to the nation.