Pakistani squash star Noor Zaman has qualified for the main draw of the prestigious British Open Squash Championship after defeating Egypt's Kareem El Torkey in the final round of qualifiers.

 

The reigning World Under-23 Champion continued his impressive run on the professional circuit, securing his spot in one of the sport’s most esteemed tournaments. In the decisive qualifier, 10th-seeded Zaman outplayed third seed El Torkey 11-5, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7 in a 46-minute contest.

 

Earlier in the qualifying rounds, Zaman defeated England’s Will Salter 3-1 (10-12, 11-2, 11-5, 11-3) in 42 minutes, and then edged past veteran Adrian Waller 3-1 (9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 14-12) in a grueling 59-minute third-seeded battle.

 

This is not the first time a Pakistani player has reached the British Open main round. In 2022, Tayyab Aslam represented Pakistan in the main draw, where he faced Egyptian great Mohamed ElShorbagy. Prior to that, players like Farhan Mahboob and Aamir Atlas Khan featured in earlier editions, including 2009 and 2019.

 

Zaman is set to face England’s Curtis Malik in the first round on Sunday as he looks to continue what is shaping up to be a breakthrough season.

 

In April, the young talent claimed the Under-23 World Championship title after beatng Egypt’s Karim El-Turki in a thrilling five-game final at DHA Creek Club in Karachi.

 

Pakistan has a rich legacy at the British Open, with a record 30 titles, more than any other country. Squash legend Jahangir Khan alone won 10 of those titles.

 

Zaman’s recent form is a promising sign for the revival of Pakistani squash, as the nation aims to return to its historic dominance on the global stage.