Asian Team Squash Championship: Pakistan beats India, advances to semifinals

DALIAN: Pakistan secured a spot in the semifinals of the Asian Team Squash Championship by defeating India 2-1 on the third day of the tournament on Friday.

Asim Khan led Pakistan with a 3-0 victory over India’s Rahul Baitha. However, Nasir Iqbal’s lost to India’s Velavan Senthilkumar. His loss attributed to illness confirmed by the national coach.

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Noor Zaman then delivered a flawless 3-0 win over Suraj Kumar Chand, securing Pakistan’s advancement to the next round.

Next, Pakistan will face Hong Kong in the semifinals.

Besides Pakistan, Malaysia achieved a 2-0 victory over Singapore, with Addeen Idrakie and Eain Yon Ng securing decisive wins. Japan also won with a 2-0 score against Korea, with Tomototaka Endo and Ryunosukue Tsukue delivering strong performances.

Hong Kong also displayed great performance with a 2-0 victory over Iran, led by Henry Leung and Alex Lau.

The city of Dalian, China, is hosting the 22nd edition of the Asian Team Championships from June 12 to June 16.

The Asian Team Championships is one of top tournaments competition within the sport of squash. The tournament features teams from different countries competing in singles matches in a best-of-three format.

The Asian Team Championship was established in 1984 and is held biennially, save for 2020 due to Covid-19. The championship has witnessed a strong legacy from Pakistan, with over 15 titles in the men’s category.

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Meanwhile, Malaysia has excelled in the women’s category. The Malay won the championship in 2021 and 2008. Other powerhouse within the sport include India, Hong Kong, and Kuwait, who have consistently performed well and podiumed.

Over the years, the championships have been hosted in various Asian cities, including Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, and Kuwait City.