After a 37 year-wait, Pakistan has reclaimed its position at the top of Squash at the global level, thanks to the heroics of 17-year-old Hamza Khan.
Hamza Khan beat 15-year-old Mohamed Zakaria from Egypt at the Melbourne Sports Centres on Sunday to clinch the final of the WSF World Junior Squash Championships 2023.
https://twitter.com/WorldSquash/status/1683036046991433728
During the match, Zakaria, who is two years junior to Hamza, started off strongly. He won the opening game 12-10.
Zakaria, who was aiming to set the record for the youngest World Junior Squash Champion, quickly settled into his rhythm and dominated Hamza, racing to a 5-0 lead in the second game.
Hamza, who was the first Pakistani to make the World Junior Squash Championship final in 15 years, started to claw back. With the stakes piled against him, Hamza decided to go on the offensive.
His aggressiveness paid dividends, and he managed to win the second game 14-12.
It was this momentum that the Peshawar-born player needed, and he made quick work of the third game, winning it 11-3.
Zakaria attempted to mount a comeback of his own, but Hamza, who had taken some time to get going, ensured there would be no surprises and wrapped up the fourth game 11-6.
https://twitter.com/WorldSquash/status/1683006212403503104
The victory ended Pakistan's 37-year wait for the championship. The last Pakistani to win the championship was the legendary Jan Sher Khan. It is believed that when the two met last year, the legend may have had a lasting influence on Hamza.
https://twitter.com/iamhamzakhan21/status/1510147060766441474
Hamza, the son of a civil aviation employee, had been given an honorary membership of a squash club two years ago, but he took it as the opportunity he needed.
In comments after the match, Hamza thanked all those who had backed him.
"First of all, I would like to thank Allah, and my thanks to my coaches, my managers, thanks to everybody. And thanks to my parents, who supported me every single time. Thank you," he said.
He went on to thank the Pakistan Squash Federation and Pakistan Army for their support which has seen him amass around 13 titles, including those of Asian Junior Champion and the British Junior Champion and now the global title.
"If I keep getting support, I will raise Pakistan's flag at all levels of the sport."
https://twitter.com/nayadaurpk_urdu/status/1683137655968763906
https://twitter.com/WorldSquash/status/1683009106964103168
In the women's competition, 16-year-old Egyptian Amina Orfi defended her title against Malaysian Aira Azman.
Orfi, who had stunned the world by clinching the title last year in France at the tender age of 15, dominated the final against the first Malaysian to reach this stage of the competition in 22 years.
Hamza Khan beat 15-year-old Mohamed Zakaria from Egypt at the Melbourne Sports Centres on Sunday to clinch the final of the WSF World Junior Squash Championships 2023.
https://twitter.com/WorldSquash/status/1683036046991433728
During the match, Zakaria, who is two years junior to Hamza, started off strongly. He won the opening game 12-10.
Zakaria, who was aiming to set the record for the youngest World Junior Squash Champion, quickly settled into his rhythm and dominated Hamza, racing to a 5-0 lead in the second game.
Hamza, who was the first Pakistani to make the World Junior Squash Championship final in 15 years, started to claw back. With the stakes piled against him, Hamza decided to go on the offensive.
His aggressiveness paid dividends, and he managed to win the second game 14-12.
It was this momentum that the Peshawar-born player needed, and he made quick work of the third game, winning it 11-3.
Zakaria attempted to mount a comeback of his own, but Hamza, who had taken some time to get going, ensured there would be no surprises and wrapped up the fourth game 11-6.
https://twitter.com/WorldSquash/status/1683006212403503104
The victory ended Pakistan's 37-year wait for the championship. The last Pakistani to win the championship was the legendary Jan Sher Khan. It is believed that when the two met last year, the legend may have had a lasting influence on Hamza.
https://twitter.com/iamhamzakhan21/status/1510147060766441474
Hamza, the son of a civil aviation employee, had been given an honorary membership of a squash club two years ago, but he took it as the opportunity he needed.
In comments after the match, Hamza thanked all those who had backed him.
"First of all, I would like to thank Allah, and my thanks to my coaches, my managers, thanks to everybody. And thanks to my parents, who supported me every single time. Thank you," he said.
He went on to thank the Pakistan Squash Federation and Pakistan Army for their support which has seen him amass around 13 titles, including those of Asian Junior Champion and the British Junior Champion and now the global title.
"If I keep getting support, I will raise Pakistan's flag at all levels of the sport."
https://twitter.com/nayadaurpk_urdu/status/1683137655968763906
https://twitter.com/WorldSquash/status/1683009106964103168
In the women's competition, 16-year-old Egyptian Amina Orfi defended her title against Malaysian Aira Azman.
Orfi, who had stunned the world by clinching the title last year in France at the tender age of 15, dominated the final against the first Malaysian to reach this stage of the competition in 22 years.