Rising Pakistani squash sensation Noor Zaman, fresh off his triumph at the Under-23 World Championship, is now set to compete in one of the sport\u2019s most prestigious tournaments \u2014 the British Open. The 20-year-old has not only emerged as a top talent in recent years but is also proudly carrying forward one of Pakistan\u2019s most illustrious squash legacies. He will be up against England\u2019s Curtis Malik in the first round on Sunday (today). Noor who hails from another legendary squash family of Pakistan, is the grandson of Qamar Zaman, former world No 1 and British Open champion in 1975. His uncles Mansoor Zaman (former world No 11) and Shahid Zaman (former world No 14) also graced the world stage, and his father was a professional player and coach. Now, Noor is writing his own chapter. After winning the U23 World Championship \u2014 bringing Pakistan the title in this category after many years \u2014 Noor secured direct entry into the World Championship which recently concluded in Chicago. There, he defeated the world No 20 Abdullah Al-Tamimi of Qatar before bowing out to the world No 7 Egypt\u2019s Karim Abdel Gawad. Building on that momentum, he recently qualified for the main draw of the British Open, defeating former world No 25 and Egypt\u2019s Karim El-Torkey in the qualifiers \u2014 the same opponent he beat in the U23 World Championship final. \u201cQualifying for the British Open is a huge moment for me,\u201d said Noor. \u201cIt\u2019s the toughest squash tournament in the world, alongside the World Open. All the top players are here, and getting into the main draw after playing qualifiers makes it even more meaningful.\u201d This marks the first time in recent years that a Pakistani has reached the British Open main draw via qualifiers. The last Pakistani in the tournament was Tayyab Aslam in 2022, who received direct entry. Noor credits his success largely to the guidance of his grandfather and coach, Qamar. \u201cI started playing squash at seven, and honestly, I didn\u2019t like it much in the beginning. It was hard work, a lot of running, and sacrifice,\u201d Noor admitted. \u201cBut my grandfather was strict, and he worked tirelessly with me. My foundation, my discipline \u2014 everything I\u2019ve built is because of him.\u201d While Noor has great admiration for legends like Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan, his favourite modern-era player is Egypt\u2019s Ali Farag, the former world No 1 who recently announced his retirement. \u201cAli Farag has always been my inspiration. He had such elegance and intelligence in his game. It\u2019s sad to see him retire, but he\u2019ll always remain a benchmark for me,\u201d said Noor. Beyond personal effort and family support, Noor points to the crucial backing from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which currently oversees the matters of the Pakistan Squash Federation. He praised their role in rejuvenating squash in the country. \u201cThere was a time when Pakistani squash was declining due to lack of support. But now, thanks to the Pakistan Air Force, the situation is changing,\u201d he said. \u201cUnder the leadership of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, the PAF is taking a direct and sincere interest in the sport. They\u2019re providing players with better facilities, more exposure, and all kinds of support we need to succeed.\u201d Noor believes this institutional backing is key to restoring Pakistan\u2019s former glory in squash. \u201cIf this kind of support continues, Insha\u2019Allah Pakistani players will once again be among the world\u2019s best. The talent is there \u2014 we just need the opportunities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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