Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Humam Ahmad of PSB Mohib Ullah Khan Squash Academy upset Pakistan No. 1 Ahad Shoukat of Punjab in the final of the Pakistan Red Crescent National Junior Age Group Squash Championship played here at PAF Hashim Khan Squash Complex on Saturday.

Chairman Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chapter Lt. Gen. (Retd) Muhammad Hamid Khan, Vice Chairman Azra Jamshed Karim, former World Champion Qamar Zaman, Secretary IT Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dawood Khan, Chief Referee Pakistan Squash Federation Munawar Zaman, coach Riaz Khan, and large number of players and spectators were also present.

The final match of Under-11 category produced great thrill for the sitting spectators as Humam lost the first set 10-12 when Ahad quickly taken the set with his superb nick and drop shorts but Humam Ahmad came back strongly and won three consecutive games by 12-10, 14-12 and 13-11. The two players Humam and Ahad Shoukat of Punjab received thundering applauses from the sitting spectators.

In another thrilling final of the Under-13 category Hamza Niaz upset Pakistan No.1 Muhammad Ammad in a marathon five sets battle. Muhammad Ammad, who also won DG Renger and a National event in Lahore, failed to click despite winning the first two sets by 6-11 and 7-11.

Muhammad Hamza Niaz came back strongly and won three consecutive sets by 12-10, 11-9 and 12-10. Both Hamza and Ammad produced good thrilling and attacking game.

In the Under-15 category international Asad Ullah defeated Farhan Hashmi of Punjab by 3-1, the score was 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, and 11-6. It was in the Under-17 category international Uzair Shoukat of PAF defeated Oan Abbas of Punjab by 3-0, the score was 12-10, 11-7 and 11-8.

In the Under-15 Girls category top seed Laiba Ijaz recorded victory against Nimra Aqeel in the final in another thrilling encounter wherein both stretched to five sets. Laiba won the first set by 12-10 but failed to click in the second and third won by Nimra Aqell at 9-11 and 9-11. Laiba after going down, managed her position and staged a comeback by winning fourth and fifth sets. The score was 11-8 and 12-10.

At the end, the chief guest gave away trophies and cash prizes to the position holders of all categories part of the Championship.

In his brief chat, Lt. Gen Muhammad Hamid Khan lauded the efforts of the KP Squash Association for holding National Junior Championship. He said soon an international tournament would be organized in Peshawar. He urged upon the players to continue their hard work so that Pakistan could be able to achieve the lost glory of squash in the world. He said Pakistan Red Crescent Society KP will continue sponsoring squash.

He termed sports activities very vital for the physical and mental health of the youth. He said Pakistan Red Crescent Society KP along with its international partners would chalk out a plan for holding international tournament wherein international players would also be invited only to portray a soft image of Pakistan internationally.